As harvest wraps up, many farmers are turning their attention to fall fertilizer applications. Managing nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) levels is crucial, especially with variable weather and input costs. In...
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....
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
Episode 57 of the Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy podcast discusses an often-overlooked aspect of maintaining water quality – the impact of fall leaf...
The North Central Region Water Network is a 12-state Extension-led collaboration focused on ensuring safe and sufficient water supplies not only in the North Central Region, but beyond. The Watershed Management Research and Outreach Undergraduate...
Prairie strips are notably not a very well-known conservation practice, despite their many benefits. Prairie strips are a conservation practice that uses strategically placed native prairie planting in...
As the climate continues to change, we are seeing more frequent, extreme weather events. With these weather events occurring more often, considerations on how those events impact agriculture need to be addressed. Trent Ford, State...
A watershed plan is a stakeholder-supported tool used to protect water resources and improve water quality. A watershed plan can also be used to leverage state and federal dollars for conservation practice adoption. The updated Embarras River Watershed (ERW) Management Plan, approved by the ...
As the use of cover crops continues to grow across Illinois and the country, non-traditional crops are being researched and explored as potential cover crops including camelina....
Interested in adopting cover crops but unsure what it will mean for your field? In the December 2021 NLRS Podcast episode, we go into depth on an update to the Cover Crop Decision Support Tool with Dr....
Interested in joining a carbon (C) market, but not sure what it will mean for your field? With a large, diverse number of companies attempting to purchase C credits from farmers, what do farmers need to consider before selling? It is important to understand the details behind C credits and what can...
The Bipartisan Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) was signed into law in August 2022. Within the IRA, $18 billion was allocated for agricultural conservation funding over the next 10 years for existing USDA programs. Ivan...
Did you know that there are other ecosystem markets out there that aren’t carbon markets? With the increasing number of players and frequent changes in ecosystem markets, there is a lot of uncertainty. In the February 2022 episode of the Illinois...
With so many conservation practices focusing on soil health, what impact might those decisions have on your Integrated Pest Management (IPM) decisions? IPM is a science-based decision-making process that combines tools and strategies to identify and manage pests as defined by the USDA. It is a...
Welcome to the NEW Nutrient Loss Reduction Blog where we explore different conservation practices and work together with farmers to improve water quality in Illinois and beyond. To listen to the full podcast interviews with Chris and Steve go to...
