Working alongside his father and uncle on their family farm in Meredosia, Nick Werries gained an appreciation for nature at an early age. He described his fond memories of riding in the tractor and helping his uncle plant apple and peach trees. He said, “I helped quite a bit with getting equipment ready for the […]

The fourth annual Soil Health Week will be celebrated across Illinois on March 3-9, 2025, and AIM is excited to be hosting a virtual panel featuring our Level 3 Conservation Planners on March 4th f rom 11 am to 12 pm! Adams County Conservation Planner Andrew Parks, Scott County Conservation Planner Courtney Lercher, and Knox […]

As a Conservation Planner in the Will County field office, Wyatt Dozier has had the opportunity to work on everything f rom raised beds in a vacant lot in Chicago to grazing plans for livestock in Kankakee. Wyatt’s enthusiasm for conservation began at an early age, as he grew up in a home surrounded by […]

Although we have officially entered winter, some producers are still growing ample fresh vegetables inside high tunnels, for which NRCS offers funding through EQIP. There are several cold hardy crops that can survive in high tunnels(commonly referred to as hoop houses) over winter without any heating, including kale, cilantro, carrots, and turnips. If you are […]

Upon speaking with Courtney Lercher at the Scott County Soil and Water Conservation District, her environmental consciousness radiates along with her ambition to assist producers, and it comes as no surprise that she was one of the first Conservation Planners (CPs) to achieve Level 3 certification. Her interest in agriculture started in high school when […]

Composting is one of the most environmentally practical ways to enhance your soil by taking advantage of the food web. In a fact sheet produced by the US Composting Council (USCC), they noted that by increasing soil organic matter (SOM), improving water retention, and boosting plant nutrient uptake, compost can reduce nutrient losses. This document […]

The Conservation Capacity Building Initiative was created in response to the Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy (NLRS) to promote conservation practices throughout the state. The goal of this publication is to spread awareness about conservation practices and programs that will assist farmers and those who advise them in decreasing nutrient losses while also improving their […]

When he’s not fishing, hunting, or caring for his family’s 25 Nigerian Dwarf dairy goats, Andrew Parks has a true passion for working in the field of conservation.  Born and raised in Quincy, he lives about half a mile down the road from his parents on a family farm with his wife and 10-month-old son. […]

As with much of Illinois agriculture, DeKalb County’s most plentiful commodities are corn and soybeans, followed by hogs and beef cattle. But don’t forget the apple orchards. Or the dairy cattle, sheep, goats, and chickens. Or the pumpkins. Or the fresh vegetables and greens destined for Chicago markets. Or the hay, oats, raspberries, strawberries, and […]

STAR farmers make positive changes on their land, knowing greater soil productivity and resilience thanks to healthy soil is a better investment, said Collin Nye, one of the Conservation Planners who contributed to STAR verification. Nye is based out of Grundy County Soil & Water Conservation District, and is one of 40 planners stationed around […]