Community members visited Marion County Soil & Water Conservation District Wednesday to acknowledge Burke Davies’ four decades of service in the field of conservation agriculture.  Burke has served as resource coordinator for the district in Salem since August 1987, and his agriculture life has included everything from walking beans, reclaiming mines, spending days in the... Continue reading→

The Association of Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts (AISWCD), a 501(c)4 organization, is seeking an experienced, dynamic, and mission focused individual to serve as the next executive director. STORY The AISWCD was established in 1948 as a non-profit organization with the mission to promote and advocate for the responsible management of natural resources throughout... Continue reading→

Precision Conservation Management and PepsiCo are asking SWCDs to spread the word about their cost-share program – an opportunity for farmers to get paid for new and old cover crops, reduced tillage, and/or reduced nitrogen rates. In Illinois, this opportunity is available in the following counties: Ogle, LaSalle, Lee, DeKalb, Boone, Winnebago, Ford, Livingston, Logan,... Continue reading→

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) announced they will accept sealed bids this fall for about 30 agricultural lease contracts for crop years 2025-2029. IDNR utilizes agricultural leases as a tool to support wildlife populations and recreational opportunities at sites owned or managed by the agency. The leases developed under this program will promote... Continue reading→

The Kane-DuPage Soil & Water Conservation District, with sponsorship from American Farmland Trust and Kane County, put on an introductory gathering for Women in Ag: Farm Conservation Community Series last Thursday, August 29, 2024, at Rosewood Farm near Sugar Grove. The event featured Dr. Stacy Zuber, research data scientist on the agronomy team at the... Continue reading→

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency announced $5 million in new funding for projects that will improve water quality in Illinois. The Green Infrastructure Grant Opportunities (GIGO) Program has been made possible by Governor Pritzker’s bipartisan Rebuild Illinois capital plan. See Notice of Funding Opportunity. “The green infrastructure projects funded through the GIGO program will protect... Continue reading→

Thanks to those who represented Soil & Water Conservation Districts in the Illinois State Fair this year. The Association of Illinois Soil & Water Conservation Districts entered a float with the MAGIC of Conservation theme from the annual conference – and won third place!  In the parade were: Tara and Erik Hopkins – Edgar SWCD... Continue reading→

Illinois lawmakers are arguing the USDA isn’t allocating enough federal funds for our state, given it ranks fourth in the nation in planted cropland, and asks for doubling or tripling the support for healthy soils and cleaner water. “We are writing to express our concerns that Illinois, one of the top states in the nation... Continue reading→

Richard Lyons of Harvel was named the 2024 Illinois Leopold Conservation Award winner Friday August 9 at Agriculture Day during the Illinois State Fair in Springfield. The award honors farmers and forestland owners who go above and beyond in the management of soil health, water quality, and wildlife habitat on working land. Richard “Dick” Lyons... Continue reading→

The Illinois Department of Agriculture recognized several Soil & Water Conservation District Families Friday August 9 at Agriculture Day at the 2024 Illinois State Fair in Springfield. Conservation Farm Family of the Year Hobby Farms from Henderson County was named the Association of Illinois Soil & Water Conservation Districts’ 2024 Conservation Farm Family of the... Continue reading→