Announcing the lineup of speakers for the 2024 MAGIC of Conservation Annual Meeting & Summer Training Conference. Agenda/Schedule PDF (update 7/2) | Conference page | Registration PDF For over 25 years, Central Illinois magician, Mitch Williams, has thrilled audiences throughout the US and internationally. With his home base located in the heart of Illinois, he... Continue reading→

Dear SWCD colleagues, stakeholders, and supporters, Illinois’ 103rd General Assembly has finalized the FY25 budget. While many are celebrating, we on the frontlines of soil and water conservation are yet again disillusioned by a frontal attack that has landed at our doorsteps. As a recap, the governor proposed returning the state’s investment into Soil and... Continue reading→

The Illinois Soil and Water Conservation District Employee Association announces their annual scholarship. Those eligible must be either an Illinois SWCD employee who is an active member of ISWCDEA in good standing (pay your $10 annual dues), or a spouse or legal dependent of an Illinois SWCD employee who is an active member in good standing with... Continue reading→

Please ask your Illinois State Representative to commit $10.5 million in the FY25 budget for the Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) operations funds (find your Rep’s contact info). The state of Illinois cannot afford to fall further behind neighboring states in the work of 97 locally-led SWCDs to keep our soil healthy and our... Continue reading→

The Illinois State Police closed I-55 at McLean Tuesday May 21, 2024 due to a dust storm. Numerous Central Illinois counties including McLean, Logan, Morgan, and Sangamon counties experienced low to zero visibility on roadways. Dear Governor Pritzker and Members of the 103rd General Assembly, In all, there are 2,185 interstate miles that serve the... Continue reading→

The 2024 Illinois Envirothon, organized by Soil & Water Conservation Districts, was held Wednesday and Thursday May 8-9 at Allerton Park’s 4-H Memorial Camp, near Monticello. Eighteen teams of high schoolers from around the state gathered to compete on conservation-based themes, with the winner headed to the national competition in Geneva, New York this summer.... Continue reading→

Melissa Cauble from the Montgomery County Soil & Water Conservation District reports on Hands on Habitat Day, held May 10 on a highly-visible site along I-55, hosted by Montgomery SWCD’s Natural Area Guardians. Hands on Habitat Day was conducted by Montgomery County Pheasants Forever at  Route 66 Prairie at Litchfield. State and local Pheasants Forever leaders... Continue reading→

Directors from local Soil & Water Conservation Districts joined the Association of Illinois Soil & Water Conservation Districts plus supporters from the Illinois Soybean Association, University of Illinois Extension, American Farmland Trust, Illinois Stewardship Alliance, the Illinois Environmental Council, and others for Loyal to the Soil Outreach and Education Day Tuesday May 8, 2024, at... Continue reading→

The Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs is facilitating three focus group sessions with producers to discuss the risks and benefits of cover crops for a multi-university/agency grant-funded research project. Food and drink will be provided. In addition, the first 20 participants to register at each location will earn a $100 stipend. RSVP by Monday, May... Continue reading→

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is seeking nominations for four positions on the Federal Advisory Committee for Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production.  USDA will accept nominations from May 7, 2024, to July 7, 2024. The 12-member Committee, which first convened in March 2022, is part of USDA’s efforts to increase support for urban agriculture... Continue reading→