Blog | Nutrient Loss Reduction | Illinois Extension

At Illinois Extension, we’re working to improve water quality at home and downstream. Every month, our Watershed Outreach Associates explore 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 field.

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Nutrient Loss Reduction Blog

Farmers talking during a panel discussion in Knox County.

Edge-of-field considerations: A farmer perspective

September 10, 2024

Edge-of-field practices help reduce nutrient loss, improve wildlife habitats, and support long-term farm sustainability. A farmer panel hosted in Knox County with farmers utilizing these practices revealed their experiences....

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Phosphorus and streambanks: a battle for cleaner waterways

August 12, 2024

Streams are an integral part of our ecosystem. They provide a source of drinking water and an important habitat for aquatic life, but they also drain our agricultural lands to allow better crop production. In Episode 65 of the Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Podcast, we take a deeper look at the...

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North Central Agriculture and Climate Conference

July 10, 2024

The North Central Agriculture and Climate Conference aims to connect research, extension, and outreach within the agricultural community and will be held at the Peoria Civic Center from July 31 to...

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Data Intensive Farm Management

May 31, 2024

With thin profit margins and the high cost of inputs, there is a need to make farming more efficient and profitable. One way researchers and farmers are working together to do this is through data-intensive farm management (DIFM).What is DIFM? DIFM...

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ISAP Soil Health Leadership Program

May 6, 2024

Soil health is a vital component for productive fields, but it is a complex topic. The Illinois Sustainable Ag Partnership (ISAP) has created the Soil Health Leadership Program (SHLP) to...

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Uncovering the power of clover cover

April 5, 2024

Interested in diversifying your cover crop mix or exploring the power of clover cover? Episode 61 of the Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction podcast looks into utilizing clover as a cover crop with Adam Dahmer, farmer from Williamson County in southern Illinois, and...

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The NLRS, nitrogen applications, & crop insurance

February 21, 2024

Are you a farmer who's been dealing with the challenges of split-applying nitrogen or considering post-planting applications but worried about the risks? Episode 60 of the Illinois Nutrient Reduction Podcast discusses the Post-Application Coverage...

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When it rains, it pours

February 13, 2024

In the last few years, we have experienced several extreme weather events associated with climate change from droughts to intense rain events and flooding. Episode 59 of the Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Podcast explores the relationship between extreme precipitation events and nutrient loss in...

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Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy 2023 Biennial Report: Part 2

December 27, 2023

The loss of nutrients in Illinois lakes, streams, and rivers harms water quality locally and downstream, eventually leading to the Gulf of Mexico. The Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy (NLRS) was established in 2015 and designed to reduce the nutrient loads in Illinois waterways and its...

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Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy 2023 Biennial Report: Part 1

December 20, 2023

In response to the Gulf Hypoxia Task Force and the Gulf Hypoxia Action Plan, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Illinois Department of Agriculture, and the University of Illinois collaborated to develop the Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy (NLRS) in 2015. This strategy, aimed...

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