The Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, its Center for Rural Health & Social Service Development, and the Farm Family Resource Initiative have a series of virtual sessions on farm succession to help farmers and farm families planning for the future and weighing retirement options. It is estimated more than 70 percent of the farmland... Continue reading→

Leaders from soil and water conservation districts from around the country gathered in San Diego February 10-14, 2024 for the National Association of Conservation Districts 78th Annual Meeting. “Getting together with people from all over the US, it broadens your horizons on what the conservation issues are,” said Steve Stierwalt, immediate past president of the... Continue reading→

Calendar details via Illinois Stewardship Alliance Advocacy in Action – Please join your fellow conservation colleagues, SWCD directors/staff, and stakeholders from across the state as we bring our message of clean water, healthy soil to Springfield and our state’s elected officials during Soil Health Week March 4-8. First, will you please download and print/post this... Continue reading→

The Illinois Department of Agriculture hosted the 2024 Conservation Cropping Seminar Wednesday January 31 at the IDOA Building at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield. The day began with a presentation by Macauley Kincaid of Jasper, Missouri, who has gained renown for his regenerative agriculture practices and has been featured in articles and conferences. Kincaid... Continue reading→

The Association of Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts (AISWCD) Executive Director, Dr. Michael Woods, shared highlights of the Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy’s Non-Point Agriculture Sector at the NLRS Partnership Conference Wednesday January 25. Woods noted nutrient loads are still increasing for the non-point sector, there is urgent need to continue work in research, education,... Continue reading→

The Association of Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts, a grassroots organization founded in 1948 to represent and empower Illinois’ Soil and Water Conservation Districts, is thrilled to announce the appointment of Dr. Michael Woods as its new Executive Director. Woods, with more than 30 years of community organizing, education, and government experience is an... Continue reading→

The national STAR program featured Illinois STAR – started at the Champaign County Soil & Water Conservation District – in their January newsletter. Subscribe to the newsletter here. This month we highlight the Illinois STAR Affiliate – where STAR first started in 2017 when two Central Illinois farmers wondered how they could encourage neighbors to... Continue reading→

Our friends at the Agroecology + Innovation Matters initiative featured the Champaign County Soil & Water Conservation District’s efforts in creating STAR (Saving Tomorrow’s Agriculture Resources) in a series of articles and videos. Click links for a story on the history of STAR, feature on some of the STAR creators, and a quick overview of... Continue reading→

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois STAR (Saving Tomorrow’s Agriculture Resources) is excited to announce open enrollment for farmers for the 2023 crop year. As summer settles in and crops are growing throughout the Midwest, it’s time for farmers and landowners to reap the results of investing in conservation practices on their fields. By participating in STAR,... Continue reading→

We came, we saw, we conferenced! We hope this message finds you well and brimming with inspiration after the successful conclusion of the 75th Annual Meeting and Summer Training Conference of the Association of Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts (AISWCD) on July 18th, 2023. It was truly an unforgettable event, made possible by the... Continue reading→