The Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Podcast

The Bipartisan Inflation Reduction Act  was signed into law in August 2022. Within the IRA, $18 billion was allocated for agricultural conservation funding over the next 10 years for existing USDA programs. Ivan Dozier, retired Illinois State Conservationist, and Jonathan Coppess, University of Illinois Agriculture Policy Specialist discuss which USDA conservation programs will benefit and how this extra funding may complicate the continued existence of these programs over time. 

Explore efforts to reduce nutrients in Illinois waterways from agricultural runoff to municipal wastewater with host Todd Gleason and producers Rachel Curry, Nicole Haverback, and Emma Eldridge.  

• Read the blog at extension.illinois.edu/nlr/blog 
• Subscribe for updates 
• Explore more about nutrient loss in Illinois at go.illinois.edu/nutrientloss 

Talking to farmers about adopting conservation practices in their operation can be intimidating for both farmers and conservation professionals. There is an understood need to increase conservation practice adoption in Illinois and across the Midwest, but how can we reach those that have been resistant to adoption? In the December 2022 episode of the Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Podcast, we talk to Chris Morris, a Ph.D. candidate in Rural Sociology and Sustainable Agriculture at Iowa State University, and Steve Staker, a farmer from Mercer County, Illinois to get some ideas on how to talk to farmers about conservation.   

Explore efforts to reduce nutrients in Illinois waterways from agricultural runoff to municipal wastewater with host Todd Gleason and producers Rachel Curry, Nicole Haverback, and Emma Eldridge.  

• Read the blog at extension.illinois.edu/nlr/blog 
• Subscribe for updates 
• Explore more about nutrient loss in Illinois at go.illinois.edu/nutrientloss 

get behind-the-scenes information about the creation and production of the new Illinois Farm Bureau (IFB) Documentary - Sustaining our Future: A Farm Family Story. Michael Ganschow, Bureau County Farmer, Lauren Lurkins, IFB Director of Environmental Policy, and Scott Anderson, IFB Video Producer, spoke about the goals and desired outcomes that went into its creation.

Explore efforts to reduce nutrients in Illinois waterways from agricultural runoff to municipal wastewater with host Todd Gleason and producers Rachel Curry, Nicole Haverback, and Luke Zwilling.

• Read the blog at extension.illinois.edu/nlr/blog  
• Subscribe for updates 
• Explore more about nutrient loss in Illinois at go.illinois.edu/nutrientloss

Did you know that there are other ecosystem markets out there that aren’t carbon markets? With the increasing number of players and frequent changes in ecosystem markets, there is a lot of uncertainty. In the February 2022 episode of the Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Podcast, we talked to Jack McCormick, an Illinois farmer who is part of a carbon market, and his advice to those interested in joining a market. In addition, we discussed other ecosystem markets, some of the players, and ways to evaluate different opportunities with Jean Brokish, Midwest Program Manager with American Farmland Trust and member of the Illinois Sustainable Ag Partnership (ISAP). 

Explore efforts to reduce nutrients in Illinois waterways from agricultural runoff to municipal wastewater with host Todd Gleason and producers Rachel Curry and Nicole Haverback.

• Read the blog at extension.illinois.edu/nlr/blog  
• Subscribe for updates 
• Explore more about nutrient loss in Illinois at go.illinois.edu/nutrientloss

Interested in joining a carbon (C) market, but not sure what it will mean for your field? With a large, diverse number of companies attempting to purchase C credits from farmers, what do farmers need to consider before selling? It is important to understand the details behind C credits and what can be done to increase the amount of C in the soil. On the March 2022 NLRS podcast episode, “The Down and Dirty on Soil Carbon,” Dr. Marshall McDaniel, Iowa State University, and Sarah Sellars, University of Illinois discuss current research on soil C, the role of soil C in C markets, and questions and considerations when deciding on joining a C market.  

Explore efforts to reduce nutrients in Illinois waterways from agricultural runoff to municipal wastewater with host Todd Gleason and producers Rachel Curry and Nicole Haverback.

• Read the blog at extension.illinois.edu/nlr/blog  
• Subscribe for updates 
• Explore more about nutrient loss in Illinois at go.illinois.edu/nutrientloss

Interested in adopting cover crops but unsure what it will mean for your field? In the December 2021 NLRS Podcast episode, we go into depth on an update to the Cover Crop Decision Support Tool with Dr. Jonathan Coppess, University of Illinois Agriculture and Consumer Economics, Dr. Trent Ford, Illinois State Climatologist, Dr. Rabin Bhattarai, University of Illinois Agricultural and Biological Engineering, and Dr. Shalamar Armstrong, Purdue University Department of Agronomy. 

Explore efforts to reduce nutrients in Illinois waterways from agricultural runoff to municipal wastewater with host Todd Gleason and producers Rachel Curry and Nicole Haverback.

• Read the blog at extension.illinois.edu/nlr/blog  
• Subscribe for updates 
• Explore more about nutrient loss in Illinois at go.illinois.edu/nutrientloss

Additional Resources: Lawn to Lake: https://lawntolakemidwest.org/ Rainscaping: https://iiseagrant.org/purdue-rainscaping-program-brings-rain-garden-training-to-illinois-extension/ OR https://extension.illinois.edu/news-releases/purdue-rainscaping-program-brings-rain-garden-training-illinois-extension Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant: https://iiseagrant.org/

Explore efforts to reduce nutrients in Illinois waterways from agricultural runoff to municipal wastewater with host Todd Gleason and producers Rachel Curry and Nicole Haverback.

• Read the blog at extension.illinois.edu/nlr/blog  
• Subscribe for updates 
• Explore more about nutrient loss in Illinois at go.illinois.edu/nutrientloss

Episode 42 | Illinois Regenerative Ag Initiative by Illinois Extension

Explore efforts to reduce nutrients in Illinois waterways from agricultural runoff to municipal wastewater with host Todd Gleason and producers Rachel Curry and Nicole Haverback.

• Read the blog at extension.illinois.edu/nlr/blog  
• Subscribe for updates 
• Explore more about nutrient loss in Illinois at go.illinois.edu/nutrientloss

Episode 41 | Are These Tools in Your ToolBox? Bioreactors by Illinois Extension

Explore efforts to reduce nutrients in Illinois waterways from agricultural runoff to municipal wastewater with host Todd Gleason and producers Rachel Curry, Nicole Haverback, and Luke Zwilling.

• Read the blog at extension.illinois.edu/nlr/blog  
• Subscribe for updates 
• Explore more about nutrient loss in Illinois at go.illinois.edu/nutrientloss

Episode 40 | Farm Safety Special Edition by Illinois Extension