Illinois

Press Release

USDA Awards $19 Million for Southern Illinois Conservation

October 28, 2024

USDA is investing nearly $19 million in a conservation project led by Ducks Unlimited in southern Illinois, according to a post from FarmWeekNow.com.

Winter Cover Crops Could Reduce Nitrogen in Drainage Water by 30%

April 25, 2023 | Posted in Soil Health

Source: University of Illinois

As Corn Belt states seek ways to curb nitrogen flow from farms into the Gulf of Mexico, new University of Illinois research adds evidence for winter cover crops as an important part of the solution.

Indigo Ag Issues 110,000 Credits in Second Carbon Crop

February 23, 2023 | Posted in Soil Health, Investing in Regenerative Ag

Source: Indigo

Indigo Ag today announced the completion of its second carbon crop

North Central SARE Announces Deadlines for 4 Grant Programs

September 16, 2022 | Posted in Soil Health, Economics

These grant programs are for farmers, ranchers, scientists, educators, institutions, organizations, and others exploring sustainable agriculture in 12 states.

USDA Issues Double-Crop Insurance FAQ for Growers

September 1, 2022

For now, the agency is focused on double-crop soybeans and double-crop sorghum, though they are examining the possibility of additional other crops at some point in the future.

$2.6 Million in Grants will Support Planting Covers on 500,000 Acres

May 24, 2022 | Posted in Economics

Grants have been awarded to the nonprofit groups American Farmland Trust, Ducks Unlimited, the Kansas Association of Conservation Districts, Minnesota Soil Health Coalition and Practical Farmers of Iowa.

Wisconsin Joins States Offering Cover Crop Insurance Rebate

April 25, 2022

Wisconsin joined Illinois, Indiana and Iowa this month in offering a crop insurance discount for growers who plant cover crops. Meanwhile, restructuring to Illinois' conservation programs did not pass in Springfield.

A Lot at Stake with Cover Crop Adoption

By Sarah Hill posted on December 9, 2019

The state of Illinois recently released their biennial Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy Report. The state has struggled with nutrient pollution in waterways and utilizing covers has been identified as a method for mitigating nutrient runoff. The problem lies in the rate of cover crop adoption. According to the report, it will be 200 years before Illinois will plant enough cover crops to make a significant reduction in nutrient runoff.

Illinois Will Reach Cover Crop Goal in 200 Years

December 9, 2019 | Posted in Economics

Source: WGLT

Illinois is still two centuries away from hitting towards its goal of planting enough cover crops to make a significant dent in its nutrient pollution problem in waterways. That's according to a coalition of environmental groups responding to the state's recently-released biennial Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy report.