Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the award of 33 Conservation Innovation Grants to entities across the nation to develop and demonstrate cutting-edge ideas to accelerate private lands conservation. Grant recipients will demonstrate innovative approaches to improve soil health, conserve energy, manage nutrients and enhance wildlife habitat in balance with productive agricultural systems. USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service administers this competitive … Read More
Conservation Work Minimizes Nutrient Runoff
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced a new U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) report that shows farmers have significantly reduced the loss of sediment and nutrients from farm fields through voluntary conservation work in the lower Mississippi River basin. Secretary Vilsack highlighted the value of conservation programs to these efforts, and called on Congress to pass a comprehensive Food, Farm and … Read More
Argentina is Big on No Till
The latest available data for the United States shows about 35-40% of cropland is no till, but in Argentina it’s 80% and growing. The Argentinean No Till Farmers Association – Aapresid – was created in 1989 with the goal of helping farmers in the country adopt no-tillage practices on their farming operations and Martin Descalzo Souto with the organization says … Read More
Illinois Governor Launches Cover Crop Demo Project
At the Farm Progress Show last week, Governor Pat Quinn announced the start of a three-year demonstration project by the Illinois Department of Agriculture to encourage the planting of environmentally-beneficial cover crops. The initiative’s goal is to improve water quality in Illinois lakes and streams by reducing soil erosion and nutrient run-off from farm fields. “Illinois is a leading agricultural … Read More
Precision.AgWired.com Podcast: New old technologies
What was once considered old is now becoming popular again. Cameron Mills is a Beck’s Hybrids seed dealer and farms in Indiana. Earlier this month he was presenting at Becknology Days in Atlanta, Ind. He says farmers are looking for ways to carry over nutrients in the soil. One of the best ways to do that, he says, is by … Read More
Studies Show Conservations Measure Working
An analysis of recent water data show long-term declining levels of nitrates in the Raccoon River, despite the weather-induced spike seen this spring. Additionally, according to Des Moines Water Works website posted measurements, 80 percent of the daily nitrate values since 2006 are less than the drinking water standard of 10 parts per million (ppm). “The fact that there’s been … Read More
Monsanto: Precision Farming Part of Conservation
Monsanto was one of the sponsors on the recent Conservation Technology Information Center tour in Livingston County, Ill., and Chuck caught up with the company’s Emilio Oyarzabal, who said the CTIC’s work is very important to Monsanto and its customers. “We need agriculture more than ever,” Emilio said, but he added that farmers are being accused of doing environmental damage. … Read More
Corn Growers Support Conservation
“Without soil, we’re out of business.” That is the simple reason why corn growers support cutting edge conservation practices, according to Illinois farmer Dan Cole, a member of the National Corn Growers Association Production & Stewardship Action Team (PSAT) who took part in the recent Conservation Technology Information Center 2013 Conservation in Action Tour. “PSAT is in charge of water … Read More
Reaping the Rewards of Good Soil Investment
“The wealth of Illinois is in her soil, and her strength lies in its intelligent development.” That quote was from one of the first presidents of the University of Illinois almost 200 years, but attendees of the recent Conservation Technology Information Center tour in Livingston County, Ill., heard it reiterated by Jean Payne, President of the Illinois Fertilizer and Chemical … Read More
GROWMARK on the CTIC Tour
Kilgus Dairy in Fairbury, Illinois was the venue for the nutrient management portion of CTIC’s 2013 Conservation in Action Tour last week. This part of the tour was sponsored by GROWMARK, Inc., which is a strong promoter of the 4Rs – using the right nutrient source at the right time and right rate and in the right place. Nutrient management … Read More