Conservation

Jim Fulton heard concerns about nitrogen leaving cropland and related water quality problems and decided to do something about it after hearing about constructed wetlands.

A constructed wetland designed to receive tile drainage water from 73 acres of corn and soybeans is doing its job of removing nitrates.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced a $1.5 billion investment for 92 partner-driven conservation projects, including one in Illinois and Indiana, through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture will begin issuing more than $2.14 billion in payments to eligible agricultural producers and landowners — providing much needed support through key conservation and safety net programs.

Participation in the Precision Conservation Management program continues to grow and farmers can still sign up for the 2024 crop year, as well as 2025.

Farmers and ranchers are leading the way in climate-smart practices that reduce emissions, enrich the soil and protect our water and air, all while producing more food, fiber and renewable fuel than ever before.

Between harvest and preparing for the state corn-husking competition, From the Fields contributor Clay Geyer has a busy October ahead of him.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced up to $7.7 billion in assistance for fiscal year 2025 to help agricultural and forestry producers adopt conservation practices on working lands.

Over its 50-year history, the Illinois Stewardship Alliance’s causes may have shifted, but it has never lost its focus on advocating for local farmers and communities.

Nominations are now being accepted for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Environmental Stewardship Award.

It certainly has dried up in a hurry and pastures are showing the ill effects of that. We have had some hot days, but for the most part temperatures have been moderate, so it could have been worse.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is accepting offers for more than 2.2 million acres through this year’s Grassland, General and Continuous Conservation Reserve Program sign-ups.

Working one-on-one with farmers and seeing positive changes across the landscape is what drives Aidan Walton. Walton has served farmers as a Precision Conservation Management specialist since 2021.

An expanded display promoting state parks and recreational sites was featured in Conservation World at the Illinois State Fair.

Richard Lyons of Harvel is the recipient of the 2024 Illinois Leopold Conservation Award.

A new Land Use Change Initiative is leading efforts to resolve inconsistencies in definitions, metrics and methodologies for quantifying land use change.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has awarded $22 million for projects in 36 states that expand access to technical assistance for livestock producers and increases the use of conservation practices on grazing lands.

A Natural Resources Conservation Service display brought the field to the Illinois State Fair. The tabletop display demonstrated the interaction between water and soils with different characteristics and management practices.

The Illinois Grazing Lands Coalition and U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin announced that the farmer-led nonprofit organization will receive a $923,458 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Planning and implementing a conservation practice could appear to be a daunting task, but resources and professional help is in place to provide the assistance needed.

Indiana has one of the smallest state agriculture departments in the nation — and Don Lamb would not have it any other way.

Building on two consecutive years of record-breaking attendance, the Illinois State Fair will feature several star performers on stage, new and the usual vendors and a free parking promotion.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has technical and financial assistance available to help farmers and livestock producers recover from recent tornadoes, high winds and flooding in Illinois.

The Livingston County Soil and Water Conservation District will host a summer farm tour Tuesday, Aug. 27.

For the third year in a row, Hoosier farmers broke a record for the number of conservation practices in the state, according to the Conservation Tillage Transect survey.

Weeding through the alphabet soup of conservation funding opportunities — both known and unknown — is time-consuming and perhaps frustrating.

The Association of Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts was formed in 1948 with a grassroots goal of protecting the state’s greatest assets — and the organization has never wavered in its efforts.

Three central Illinois farm families were honored for their conservation agriculture efforts.

The Livingston County Soil and Water Conservation District’s Women in Ag Meeting: Ideas Inc. — How to Add Conservation to Your Land will be held Aug. 6 in Pontiac.

This year, like last year, is a farm bill year — and this year, like last year, probably won’t deliver a farm bill. The reason is the oldest one in Washington, D.C.: politics.

Nine years of data analysis from Illinois farms found the most profitable acres were one-pass light tillage for corn and no-till soybeans.

The Illinois Agri-Women organization has awarded five scholarships for students studying agriculture.

Picture this: a world without fresh strawberries, watermelon or apples. Pretty gloomy, right? Thankfully, we have bees and other pollinators who are responsible for the fertilization of many fruits, vegetables and nuts.

The story of the newly married couple and their dream of continuing the family farming legacy is a tale of determination and resilience in the face of challenges.

Nominations are now being accepted for farmers and ranchers to serve on local Farm Service Agency county committees.

The Illinois Soybean Association will observe its 60th anniversary with special events and commemorations throughout the year.

The Illinois General Assembly approved a record $53.1 billion spending plan that included some good and bad news for agriculture-related programs.

A program that started seven years ago when a pair farmers teamed up with the local Soil and Water Conservation District went national last year.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has selected 28 organizations to host members of USDA’s Working Lands Climate Corps, an effort that will train the next generation of conservation and climate leaders.

For the second year in a row, Indiana landowners set a record number of conservation practices to maintain soil health, according to the Indiana Conservation Partnership.

Eliminating the information gap to help agriculture voluntarily meet the Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy goals has been a top priority for the Illinois Sustainable Ag Partnership.

This June, producers can get answers to their questions about installing edge-of-field conservation practices by connecting with farmers who have first-hand knowledge.

The slowest dance on Capitol Hill, the writing of a new farm bill, gained tempo May 1 when both the House and Senate Ag committees released versions of their bills.

House Committee on Agriculture Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson announced work on the 2024 farm bill, which includes bipartisan policies and several titles affecting farmers.

It is unclear when the U.S. Congress will pass the next farm bill. However, it is clear starting with a conservation plan is the best first step farmers can take to the best advantage of the programs in that bill.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency reminds agricultural producers that farm loan programs can be used to support a variety of climate-smart agriculture practices.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of what is referred to as the foundation of the modern crop insurance program.

The Soil and Water Outcomes Fund and John Deere announced a new collaboration, bringing an integrated digital experience to farmers participating in SWOF’s leading agricultural ecosystem services program.

Three farmers with decades of experience utilizing soil conservation practices on their farms detailed their efforts in a “Toolshed Talk.”

The benefits of enrolling in the Precision Conservation Management program were touted during a recent “Toolshed Talk.”