Talon Becker is a Commercial Agriculture Specialist based at the Urbana-Champaign campus and serving statewide.  Talon facilitates and conducts research projects focused on the development of viable practice recommendations and strategies for nutrient loss reduction in row crop agriculture around the state in collaboration with university researchers, farmers, and ag professionals from partner organizations.  In the effort to share research results as well as to receive feedback and input from farmers and ag professionals, Talon coordinates field days and other events at the Urbana-Champaign campus farms, the Ewing Demonstration Center, and other locations around the state.  Talon earned a bachelor's degree in Crop Sciences as well as Master's and Doctorate degrees in Plant Breeding and Genetics from the University of Illinois.   He is also a Certified Crop Adviser.