Nick Longbucco has been named coordinator of the Saving Tomorrow’s Agriculture Resources initiative. He will be working with conservation districts in Illinois and other partners to grow the program and support farmers in their conservation journey. A strong proponent of soil health and nutrient management practices, Longbucco has experience collaborating with farmers, government agencies and... Continue reading→

Today, the Saving Tomorrow’s Agriculture Resources (STAR) initiative introduced Nick Longbucco as its new fulltime Coordinator. Longbucco will be engaging with Conservation Districts and other partners to grow STAR and support farmers in their conservation journey. A strong proponent of soil health and nutrient management practices, Longbucco has experience collaborating with farmers, government agencies and... Continue reading→

In the lead up to Climate Week (September 21-27, 2020), the breakfast cereal giant has shared how its collaboration with The Nature Conservancy (TNC) to expand its Saving Tomorrow’s Agriculture Resources (S.T.A.R.) initiative in Illinois is paying off. Read the full story by clicking HERE.

The Association of Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts (AISWCD) this week announced Dale Shumaker, chairman of the Pulaski-Alexander County Soil and Water Conservation District, was elected vice president of the association. Elections were conducted during the association’s virtual annual meeting earlier this month.   Read the full story at the Southern Illinoisan. Continue reading→

Fall covers for spring savings! The Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) is offering farmers that plant cover crops a $5/acre discount on their crop insurance bill. IDOA’s Cover Crop Premium Discount Program is offered for acres of cover crops installed outside of state and federal program incentives (e.g., EQIP, CSP and state cost share). IDOA... Continue reading→

Clean water, healthy soils. Join the team and help further conservation! Please take a moment to review this exciting new position announcement!

The annual AISWCD poster and photo contests, held in conjunction with the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) and the NACD Auxiliary, provides students from kindergarten through 12th grade as well as adults the chance to have their poster and photo art displayed as part of a national conservation outreach initiative. Each year, the winning... Continue reading→

Watch! The Kankakee Soil and Water Conservation District is diving head first into the world of videography! In the recent past, the district received a Cover Crop Champions grant through the National Wildlife Federation. Originally, the district planned to do a series of events/field days this summer focused on cover crops and soil health. With COVID-19,... Continue reading→

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a dramatic effect on the lives of billions of people around the world. In Illinois alone, nearly 4,000 people have died and more than one million people have filed for unemployment. While the pandemic is unprecedented, public health experts have always known the threat of a global health crisis from... Continue reading→

In a rare January string of severe weather, a tornado packing winds of up to 100 miles per hour touched down in Union County, causing widespread flooding and leaving a nearly mile-long path of damage through the small town of Ware. Unfortunately, Southern Illinois is no stranger to extreme weather events like this. And, as... Continue reading→