UPCOMING EVENTS – AISWCD
MAGIC of Conservation lunch webinar training series
AISWCD Summer Convention
July 2025
UPCOMING EVENTS – SWCDs + Partners
Chesapeake Bay – Iowa Nutrient Research Center webinar
3:10-4pm Wednesday November 13
Nutrient and Sediment Loads Measured from the Chesapeake Bay River Input Monitoring Network with Jimmy Webber, Hydrologist, U.S. Geological Survey
Register
Common Ground Central – Illinois FarmLink
5-8pm Wednesday November 13
Riggs Beer Company, 1901 S. High Cross Road, Urbana
Common Ground is an in-person educational, networking and community-building event for land seekers and landowners in Illinois.
Connect with local resource providers and fellow land seekers and landowners.
Explore topics related to land access such as farmland protection, non-family farm transition and land access methods.
Learn from each other’s land access journeys to inspire new ideas in your land or farmer search.
Share your own story, ideas, and needs.
$10 registration required
Common Ground Central brought to you by Savanna Institute, American Farmland Trust and The Land Connection’s Illinois FarmLink.
Illinois Cover Crop On-Farm Network Monthly Call – Illinois Sustainable Ag Partnership
9-10am Wednesday November 13 – Zoom
The Illinois Cover Crop On-Farm Network convenes cover crop specialists from across Illinois and the broader Midwest region for monthly discussions to explore new research, troubleshoot field conditions and provide updates on policies and programs related to cover crops. Presentations by experts, researchers and industry leaders offer an opportunity to share knowledge and network with a strong community of cover crop enthusiasts.
Information | Registration
Starting Native Plants from Seed – Lake County Forest Preserve District + University of Illinois Extension
6-7:30pm Wednesday November 13 (Zoom)
Starting native plants from seed can be challenging until you know the tricks to sparking germination. Discover what it means to stratify and scarify seeds and which species need which treatment. Registration
Pasture Walk – Stockton – Illinois Grazing Lands Coalition
1-3:30pm Saturday November 16
5650 South Ridge Road, Stockton
Event at Greg Thoren’s farm to learn about virtual fence, multispecies grazing and winter grazing methods.
Free, RSVP to 217-770-7098 or email on event page | Facebook
Ag Coffee Talk: Cover Crops & Conservation – University of Illinois Extension
9-11am Tuesday November 26
Amboy Community Center – 280 W Wasson Rd, Amboy
Farmer speakers will present on their use of cover crops in the field. They will discuss both successes and failures of cover crop implementation on their farms. Farmer-led and farmer-directed. Conversations are confidential. Coffee & Tea, Sullivan’s donuts, and fruit will be provided.
Free. Registration closes November 24
Farm for the Future – The Agricultural Climate Risk Tools workshop
8:30am-1:30pm Monday December 2 – University of Illinois College of ACES Library, 1101 S. Goodwin Ave., Urbana
This program is provided through a Sustainable Ag Research and Education Professional Development grant and is cohosted by University of Illinois Extension, the Prairie Research Institute, the Illinois State Climatologist office, the USDA Midwest Climate Hub, the Midwest Regional Climate Center, and the National Integrated Drought Information System.
Lunch included; CEU credits are available for Certified Crop Advisors.
Sign up by Nov. 25 at go.illinois.edu/RiskTools
Common Ground North – Illinois FarmLink
1:30-5pm Sunday December 8
Duke’s Alehouse and Kitchen – 110 N Main St, Crystal Lake
Common Ground is an in-person educational, networking and community-building event for land seekers and landowners in Illinois.
Connect with local resource providers and fellow land seekers and landowners.
Explore topics related to land access such as farmland protection, non-family farm transition and land access methods.
Learn from each other’s land access journeys to inspire new ideas in your land or farmer search.
Share your own story, ideas, and needs.
$10 registration required
Common Ground North brought to you by the Center for Agrarian Learning at McHenry County College, Farmers Rising, The Land Connection’s Illinois FarmLink, The Land Conservancy of McHenry County and Northern Illinois Young Farmers.
Lake Erie – Iowa Nutrient Research Center webinar
3:10-4pm Wednesday December 11
Agricultural Phosphorus and Lake Erie with Laura Johnson, Director, National Center for Water Quality Research, Heidelberg University
Register
Illinois Cover Crop On-Farm Network Monthly Call – Illinois Sustainable Ag Partnership
9-10am Wednesday December 11 – Zoom
The Illinois Cover Crop On-Farm Network convenes cover crop specialists from across Illinois and the broader Midwest region for monthly discussions to explore new research, troubleshoot field conditions and provide updates on policies and programs related to cover crops. Presentations by experts, researchers and industry leaders offer an opportunity to share knowledge and network with a strong community of cover crop enthusiasts.
Information | Registration
Pasture Walk – Illinois Grazing Lands Coalition
10am-noon Saturday December 14
Brubaker Farm, 1384 North Log Cabin Lane, Ina
Learn about utilizing cover crops on crop ground for winter grazing. Free lunch.
Free, RSVP (618) 308-2831
Illinois Soybean Growers 2024 Farm Business Summit
8am-4pm December 17
Kishwaukee College, 21193 Malta Rd, Malta
Guest Host: Rob Sharkey – The Shark Farmer
Featured Guest Speakers: State Senator Andrew Chesney, and State Representative Bradley Fritts
Presentations:
• Legislative Update
• Global Grain Markets
• Climate and Weather
• Labor Crisis
• Leasing & Loans
• Innovation
• Farm Business Panel
• Navigating Dynamics of the Family Business
Free for ISG members, $35 for non-members
Register by Dec 4
Save the date – Conservation and Farming Regenerative Practices
Starting 10:30am Wednesday January 15, 2025
Alpha Legion, 211 W. A St., Alpha
Save the date for this Tri-county SWCD (Rock Island, Henry, Mercer) workshop with brunch and a conservation conversation.
RSVP Mercer County 309-582-5153 or Henry County 309-937-3377×3
More details to come . . .
Northwest Illinois Agronomy Summit – University of Illinois Extension
10am-2:30pm Wednesday January 29, 2025
Highland Community College Student Conference Center in Freeport
- What we Know Today About Biologicals in Illinois Row Crops | Dr. Connor Sible
- Managing P & K to Optimize Corn Response to N in Northern Illinois Soils | Dr. John Jones
- Corn and Soybean Management Considerations for 2025 | Dr. Connor Sible
- Resistance, Mitigations, and Metribuzin: Aspects of Weed Management in 2025
Find details and register online
Check out the bootcamps offered by Farm Foundation. Whether you’re a seasoned leader or new to the farm – the courses are taught by industry leaders, academic researchers, and subject matter experts. Held at the foundation’s campus in Libertyville.
Topics . . .
• Production Ag Sector—components and trends of production agriculture and farm-level economics, increase understanding on how to make decisions about new practices and innovations.
• Climate Change ESG Goals—understand increasing role of soil health, sustainability, regenerative agriculture, and ESG for food packaging corporations and the implications.
• Food and Ag Policy—learn about government entities involved in food and agriculture policies, key legislation, and issues.
• Innovation and Investment—understand the role investments in food and agriculture plays in advancing innovations and technologies, adoption rates and drivers, and why key innovations matter in food and agriculture.
• The Future of Food and Ag— wrap up by looking ahead into the future of food and agriculture, ongoing trends, and drivers of change, including consumer trends and their implications in both the food and agriculture sectors.
Register
2025
National No-Tillage Conference
January 7-10 – Louisville, Kentucky
Illinois Association of Drainage Districts – Annual Conference
January 16-17 – Bloomington
North American Conservation & Drainage Expo
January 21-23 – Indianapolis, Indiana
More Info
Illinois LICA Convention & Members’ Meeting
January 29 – 31 – Champaign
Annual Grazing Conference – Illinois Grazing Lands Coalition
1pm Tuesday, March 11 + 4:30pm Wednesday March 12 – Springfield
For graziers, farmers, lenders, landowners, extension and government personnel, educators, processors, conservationists and anyone interested in the future of land-use economics and profitability.
Have an event to share!? Please format and email to info@aiswcd.org
Event Name: (Ex: AISWCD Fall Fling)
Event Date and Time: (Ex: 2-4 am Saturday October 1, 2050)
Event Location: (Ex: AISWCD Headquarters | 201 West Lawrence Ave, Springfield)
Description: Short overview of relevant information – topics covered, featured speakers.
Notes: Anything additional.
Register: RSVP, payment link, deadline, and whatnot.
See other event pages:
Illinois Land Improvement Contractors Association
University of Illinois – Crop Sciences