Springfield field tour to promote benefits of improved soil health, water quality

[October 21, 2015]  SPRINGFIELD – Cover crops, conservation tillage and water quality testing are some of the latest farming buzzwords—but they are catching on for good reason. These activities can potentially improve yields and economic return for Illinois farmers, while reaping substantial environmental benefits in the process.

The Soil Health Partnership and the Illinois Council on Best Management Practices invite farmers to attend a tour of several locations in the Lake Springfield watershed for demonstrations of tools to help improve soil health and water quality. Tour stops will feature cover crops, bioreactors and several field plots on Friday, Nov. 6.

The tour begins at Lincoln Land Community College at 9 a.m. Later in the morning, busses will take participants to the farms of Dave Moose and Tim Seifert, and also to the United States Geological Services Monitoring Site for a Watershed Management program update. The day will conclude at 2:45 p.m.

The field tour will demonstrate how a combination of practices can create lasting environmental benefits while possibly increasing farm productivity and income.

The day’s activities will include:  Field walks, water quality monitoring equipment demonstrations, education on bioreactors, agricultural watershed management programs, and discussions on practical means to improve soil health and water quality.

An initiative of the National Corn Growers Association, the Soil Health Partnership works closely with diverse organizations including commodity groups, industry, foundations, federal agencies, universities and well-known environmental groups toward common goals.

“Our partnership with farmers puts good soil practices in real-life environments for others to see,” said Nick Goeser, SHP Director. “More importantly, we are gathering the scientific data needed to truly quantify that these positive actions are making an impact both for the producer and in our environment. Improved yields, environmental betterment and economic gains are all benefits of progressive soil management strategies.”

Please register for this event by contacting Lyndsey Ramsey at [phone] or [e-mail]. Lunch will be served.

About the CBMP

The Illinois Council on Best Management Practices (CBMP) is a coalition of agricultural organizations and agribusinesses including Illinois Farm Bureau, Illinois Corn Growers Association, Illinois Soybean Association, Illinois Pork Producers Association, Illinois Fertilizer and Chemical Association, Syngenta, GROWMARK, and Monsanto. CBMP was founded in 1999 and works to assist and encourage adoption of best management practices (BMPs) to protect and enhance natural resources and the sustainability of agriculture in Illinois. For more, visit illinoiscbmp.org.

About the Soil Health Partnership

The Soil Health Partnership brings together diverse partner organizations including commodity groups, federal agencies, universities and environmental groups to work toward the common goal of improving soil health. Over a five-year period, the SHP will identify, test and measure farm management practices that improve soil health and benefit farmers. We believe the results of this farmer-led project will provide a platform for sharing peer-to-peer information, and lend resources to benefit agricultural sustainability and profitability. An initiative of the National Corn Growers Association, we provide the spark for greater understanding and implementation of agricultural best practices to protect resources for future generations. For more, visit soilhealthpartnership.org.

[Courtney Hall, Frontline Public Strategies]