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 […]

Consumer interest in where food comes from is accelerating a long-overdue meeting of the minds between conservationists, environmentalists, and farmers. Public landowners are helping by viewing their farm leases as “demonstration projects” to encourage adoption of agriculture practices that prioritize soil restoration and ecosystem health. That was Ed Collins’ message in a recent webinar. Collins […]

Dick Lyons, former Lincoln Land Community College and Illinois State University agriculture professor, had the highest yields in corn and wheat, and fourth highest in soybeans, during a census in 2018. Dick credits using no-till, cover crops, and other conservation practices for helping to release nutrients in his soil while keeping water runoff clean. Dick […]

Agroecology educator Connie Kollmeyer of The Conservation Foundation. Suburbanites tend to think of agriculture as something that’s “far away”—vast fields in rural areas.  Or the “urban agriculture” phenomenon—vegetable patches popping up on vacant city lots. “I like the term community-centered agriculture,” says Connie Kollmeyer. “Community-centered agriculture means crops can be grown anywhere that people live.”  Kollmeyer […]

Celebrate Soil Health Week with the Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts, Agroecology + Innovation Matters, and Saving Tomorrow’s Agriculture Resources (STAR) March 4-10, 2024 at the Illinois State Capitol in Springfield.  Soil is the foundation of life. Along with giving us clean air and water, healthy soil is responsible for food security, rich forests, abundant prairies, […]