If you have ever wanted to see the Florida Everglades up close and personal – here is your chance. The Conservation Technology and Information Center’s 2014 Conservation in Action Tour is exploring the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) October 14-15 to hear the tale of farmers working with the entire ecosystem in mind. CTIC executive director Karen Scanlon says the tour … Read More
Register Now for Everglades Conservation Tour
The Conservation Technology Information Center has extended the early-bird registration deadline for the upcoming Everglades Conservation in Action Tour with discounts available now until September 12. The tour will take place October 14-15 and provide an in-depth look at the unique story of the approximately 700,000-acre Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA), which is located south of Lake Okeechobee in Florida. Lettuce, … Read More
CTIC at Commodity Classic
This year at the Commodity Classic, the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) was present to talk with farmers about cover crops for conservation. CTIC has a grant to promote cover crops in seven states and they held a learning center session at Classic to educate farmers about their cover crop options, according to CTIC Project Director Chad Watts. “At this … Read More
Mosaic Sponsors World Conservation Ag Conference
The Mosaic Company is joining several other agribusiness giants, including Dow AgroSciences, Monsanto and Seed Hawk, Inc., as a platinum sponsor of this summer’s 6th World Congress on Conservation Agriculture (WCCA). The conference runs June 22-25, 2014, in Winnipeg, Manitoba. “At Mosaic, we work hard to help farmers sustainably produce more food per acre,” said Rick McLellan, Mosaic Senior Vice … Read More
Use Cover Crops? Yes or No?
Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) wants to know if you are using cover crops on your farm. They are wanting input from farmers on cover crops as a conservation option on farms across the county. The survey just takes 10 minutes or less and is for those using cover crops and those who haven’t tried them yet. Your input will … 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
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
Keeping Nitrogen in Fields Farmers’ Priority, Too
Contrary to what seems to be reported many times, farmers don’t want to see their field nutrients washed on down the river to contribute to some “dead zone” in the Gulf of Mexico. “Farmers don’t want nitrogen to leave their fields. They want it in their corn crop,” explained Tim Smith during the recent Conservation Technology Information Center tour in … Read More
CTIC Tour: Filter Strips Valuable for Soil Health
Healthy soils are products of good management practices. And topping the list of practices for Terry Bachtold (shown getting an appreciation present for all his hard work of hosting), one of the host farmers for last week’s Conservation Technology Information Center tour in Livingston County, Ill., is using filter strips. “I’m a big believer in filter strips,” he exclaimed. “Whether … Read More