IOWA NUTRIENT TOUR REVEALS UNITED FRONT
Members of the Illinois farm community traveled to Iowa in August, as part of an Illinois Farm Bureau sponsored educational tour of Iowa’s nutrient management techniques. Iowa has a two-year head start over Illinois on its Nutrient Reduction Strategy. Attendees learned about the cooperation between Iowa’s state government and farmers. Read the full story on FarmWeekNow.com.
FARM SMARTER WITH THESE FIVE ONLINE TOOLS
Whether you’re looking to maximize your nutrient investment, find the right cover crop, or anticipate this year’s precipitation, you should check out these easy-to-use applications. The results from these tools are local, often right down to your zipcode. Even better – they’re free. Read more here.
PODCAST: EXPERT TALKS COVER CROPS
The Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) interviewed CBMP cover crop expert Kris Reynolds recently about the selection and management of cover crops. Kris encouraged growers to experiment with cover crops to explore the full range of benefits they confer.
WHAT WE LEARNED IN 2016
There are some encouraging indications that losses from last year’s fall-applied anhydrous ammonia have been minimal, according to results from the Illinois Fertilizer & Chemical Association’s use of the soil monitoring program N-WATCH™. The findings are further reinforced by low nitrate levels in several major Illinois watersheds. Read more here.
NREC ADOPTS NEW STRATEGY
The Nutrient Research and Education Council (NREC) adopted a new five-year strategic plan this fall, focusing its research and outreach efforts through 2021. The new plan puts the organization on better footing to tackle nutrient management issues, NREC chairman Dale Hadden said. Read more…
NREC council member Chris Matlock was recently interviewed by Bloomington’s WJBC radio about the council’s efforts. Listen here.
TIPS ON MANAGING PHOSPHORUS
Soybean farmer and CBMP president David Droste recommends farmers be proactive and experiment with phosphorous management techniques to determine what will work best on their fields. Droste and others offer several tips on establishing phosphorous management methods on your farm. Read more…
ISA’s July issue of Field & Bean includes several articles related to conservation and nutrient management, including a special section that highlights CMBP activities. You can read the July edition here.
PRODUCERS EAGER TO PARTICIPATE IN NITROGEN MANAGEMENT STUDY
The Illinois Pork Producers Association recently put out a request to producers interested in the second year of a two-year study looking at ways to better manage nitrogen in manure applications. The program filled up in less than 24 hours with 15 swine producers and four beef producers answering the call-to-action. “Livestock producers understand our industry is ever-changing and are willing to investigate new opportunities that support a continued growth in environmental sustainability,” Jennifer Tirey, Executive Director of the Illinois Pork Producers Association said.
Read more here.
AG RETAILER IN ACTION – JOHN MUSSER
Ag retailer and certified 4R Nutrient Management Specialist John Musser has seen a substantial increase in awareness amongst farmers of nutrient management issues. Farmers are understanding the need to adopt the goals of the Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy into their own farms, Musser said. Read more…
FIELD DAY IN TRIVOLI – SEPTEMBER 8
Check out a Trivoli-area demonstration farm this week, hosted by CBMP and the Soil Health Partnership. There will be a demonstration of cover crop seeding, as well as other educational exhibits such as a rainfall simulator. Water testing will also be available, so bring samples! Read more…
This is a reprint of the Illinois Council on Best Management Practices Quarterly Newsletter. To learn more about the Illinois Council on Best Management Practices, visit their website.
About the Author: Illinois Council on Best Management Practices
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