OGLESBY, Ill. – University of Illinois Extension, serving Bureau, LaSalle, Marshall, and Putnam counties, recently concluded its “Sustainability on the Farm” program series, equipping local farmers and landowners with valuable knowledge and practical tools to enhance their agricultural operations while prioritizing environmental sustainability.
The series, held throughout winter 2025, featured five engaging sessions led by industry experts from organizations including The Wetlands Initiative, Pheasants Forever Quail Forever, American Farmland Trust, and USDA NRCS. These sessions covered a diverse range of critical topics, providing participants with actionable insights and strategies to implement on their land.
The program schedule included:
- Cover Crops (January 16, 2025, at Illinois Valley Community College): Participants gained a comprehensive understanding of the benefits and implementation of cover crops for soil health and environmental improvement.
- Wildlife Habitat (February 6, 2025, at Bureau County Extension Office): Farmers explored strategies for creating and maintaining wildlife habitats within their agricultural landscapes, promoting biodiversity and ecosystem health.
- Conservation Tillage (February 20, 2025, at Bureau County Extension Office): Attendees learned about various conservation tillage practices and their impact on soil conservation, water quality, and farm profitability.
- Edge of Field Practices (March 6, 2025, at Illinois Valley Community College): The session focused on the implementation of edge-of-field practices, such as buffer strips, filter strips, and constructed wetlands, to minimize nutrient runoff and improve water quality.
- Cost Share Programs (March 20, 2025, at Marshall-Putnam Extension Office): Participants gained valuable insights into available federal, state, and private cost-share programs and funding opportunities to support their adoption of sustainable agricultural practices.
“We are thrilled with the overwhelming positive response to the 'Sustainability on the Farm' series," said Emily Hansen, Commercial Agriculture Educator. "The active engagement and thoughtful questions from participants showed a strong commitment to sustainable agriculture in our community. We are grateful to our expert speakers and partner organizations for their contributions to this successful program."
Already program participants are making changes on their land, with one stating that their grant application had been approved to restore a portion of their farm with native prairie. And another pursuing the installation of a constructed wetland on their farm.
The University of Illinois Extension remains committed to providing educational resources and support to farmers and landowners in their pursuit of sustainable agriculture. Future programs and initiatives will continue to address the evolving needs of the agricultural community and promote responsible land stewardship. More information about future programs can be found at go.illinois.edu/BLMPAg.
University of Illinois Extension develops educational programs, extends knowledge, and builds partnerships to support people, communities, and their environments as part of the state's land-grant institution. Extension serves as the leading public outreach effort for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences in all 102 Illinois counties through a network of 27 multi-county units and over 700 staff statewide. Extension’s mission is responsive to eight strategic priorities — community, economy, environment, food and agriculture, health, partnerships, technology and discovery, and workforce excellence — that are served through six program areas — 4-H youth development, agriculture and agribusiness, community and economic development, family and consumer science, integrated health disparities, and natural resources, environment, and energy.