NREC seats new board members

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The Illinois Nutrient Research and Education Council met in December and seated three new board members. They replace Cindy Skrukrud, Al Grosboll and Jeff Kirwan, who are cycling off the NREC board of directors.

Board members are appointed by Illinois Department of Agriculture Director Jerry Costello II. Two environment organizations are represented among the newly seated members.

Katie Garvey joins the board representing the Environmental Law and Policy Center. Garvey is a staff attorney located in the organization’s Chicago office and focuses on nutrient reduction strategies.

Christina Favilla joins the board representing the Illinois chapter of the Sierra Club. Favilla is based out of Sierra Club’s Alton office, where she serves as the Three Rivers Project co-coordinator, concentrating on the confluence of the Missouri, Mississippi and Illinois rivers.

Also seated at the December meeting was Brent Pollard, who represents Illinois Farm Bureau. Pollard is a dairy and grain farmer from Rockford and serves as IFB’s District 2 director.

Skrukrud leaves the NREC board as the last of the original members. Skrukrud played an integral role in the formation of NREC and has represented the environmental group through her affiliation with the Sierra Club for 12 years.

“It was a real privilege to serve as an environmental representative to NREC since its inception,” she said.

“It is the collaborative effort of diverse stakeholders that is key to the research and outreach that lead to the adoption of farm practices that optimize fertilizer use and improve the quality of our state’s rivers and streams.”

NREC currently has 27 active, multiyear projects totaling $3,183,419.