Precision Conservation Management (PCM) director Greg Goodwin and conservation specialist Lou Liva were joined by Stark County farmer Noah Forlines in episode 76 of the Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Podcast to discuss the PCM program and how it can empower farmers to improve economic and environmental performance within their operation by collecting field-level data and returning it to them in a usable format. The conversation centered on how PCM gathers pass-by-pass information from the farm, how the data is organized into an annual report, and how farmers utilize data and local comparisons to better understand their own operations.
What is PCM
PCM was developed in response to the Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy by the Illinois Corn Growers Association to help farmers evaluate the profitability and sustainability of their operation. The farmer-focused program combines economic and environmental data analysis with a focus on profitability over yield. There is no cost to join PCM, and no mandatory practice changes are required. PCM has continued to grow and is now supported by more than 30 organizations that have an interest in improving the sustainability of commercial agriculture.
How PCM works with farmers
Greg Goodwin explained that PCM works one-on-one with farmers through its network of conservation specialists. These specialists meet directly with farmers to gather detailed records for every pass across the field, including tillage, planting, fertilizer applications, and harvest information, as well as drying and transportation details. PCM then compiles this into a field-level report, known as the Resource Analysis and Assessment Plan, which allows farmers to compare their own data over time with other anonymized records in the region. PCM currently includes over 600 farmers and 660,000 acres across Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, and Nebraska.
Goodwin noted that the economic side of the report is built using an economic model developed with the University of Illinois FarmDoc team and Farm Business Farm Management data. The environmental side draws on tools such as Field to Market and the Cool Farm Tool to estimate sediment loss, greenhouse gas emissions, and other sustainability metrics.
A farmer's perspective
Stark County farmer Noah Forlines joined PCM after seeing the program advertised and was drawn to it because of his engineering background and interest in data. He said that working with Liva has given him another layer of accountability regarding nitrogen applications, especially nitrogen applied in MAP or DAP, which can be easily overlooked. He also noted that the aggregated dataset has helped him interpret his own numbers more clearly by placing them alongside those of other farms in the area.
Forlines shared that seeing multi-year comparisons has reinforced the value of using the right nitrogen rates. The information in the report confirmed what he was already seeing in his own operation. Forlines also mentioned that PCM has helped connect him to opportunities, such as payment programs tied to conservation, which he sees as an additional benefit for participating. Forlines views PMC as “all upside, no downside,” offering financial and environmental benefits with minimal commitment.
Enrolling in PCM
Liva explained that farmers can enroll in PCM at no cost and do not have to change any of their practices to participate. Specialists meet with farmers one-on-one and serve as the primary point of contact throughout the year, helping to organize field records so they are all in one place and easier to work with. Most of the process happens through three short check-ins, taking less than five hours total:
- Enrollment meeting - gather operational and field data
- Post-harvest follow-up – collect yield, drying, and transportation data
- Report delivery meeting - a final meeting to review the annual report summarizing profitability and sustainability benchmarks.
Farmer’s privacy
Goodwin emphasized that privacy is a core part of the program. Individual farm data is never shared publicly or with outside partners. The only person who sees a farmer’s report is the farmer and their assigned specialist. Any broader data use is aggregated and anonymized before being analyzed or shared.
PCM supports the farmers' decision-making process by providing them with data to make informed choices for their operations, while offering incentive program opportunities to make conservation practice adoption economically viable.
To listen to the entire interview, go to episode 76 of the Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Podcast.
About the authors
Rachel Curry is an Agriculture and Agribusiness Educator specializing in agriculture and watershed education, and she is part of the Illinois Extension's Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy implementation team. She holds a B.A. in Environmental Studies from Knox College and an M.S. in Environmental Science and Soil Science from Iowa State University, focusing on soil fertility. Her work centers on education and outreach related to the Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy, promoting agricultural conservation practices that reduce nutrient loss while enhancing water quality and soil health across Illinois.
Nicole Haverback serves as a Watershed Outreach Associate and is an Illinois Extension team member implementing the Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy. She holds a B.S. in Agricultural and Rural Policy Studies from Iowa State University. In her role, Nicole coordinates watershed management efforts aimed at reducing nutrient losses in two nitrate-nitrogen priority watersheds, offers expertise on best management practices to minimize nutrient loss, and leads outreach initiatives promoting agricultural conservation practices outlined in the Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy.
Luke Zwilling serves as a Watershed Outreach Associate and is an Illinois Extension team member implementing the Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy. He grew up on a farm in Jasper County and earned a B.S. in Agriculture and Biological Engineering from University of Illinois. Luke coordinates watershed-based activities to reduce nutrient loss in two phosphorus priority watersheds, provides expertise on best management practices for nutrient loss reduction, and conducts outreach on agricultural conservation practices in the Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy.
About the blog
At Illinois Extension, we’re working to improve water quality at home and downstream. Every month, our Watershed Outreach Associates will bring you stories highlighting agricultural conservation practices, current research projects and results, and from the field farmer interviews. The Nutrient Loss Reduction blog covers conservation practices recommended by the Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy, timely updates, farm safety, and new decision tools to help farmers and producers reduce the nutrients leaving their fields.