News

USDA Invests Over $325 million in 42 Projects to Boost Farm Operations & Conserve Natural Resources

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced an investment of over $325 million in 42 projects to help farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners boost their operations and conserve natural resources across the nation through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP).

USDA-NRCS Investments Highlight Growing Role of Agricultural Water Management

New federal investments in drainage water recycling, water storage, and smart drainage practices signal growing recognition of water management as a critical component of agricultural production, conservation, and farm resilience.

Environmental Groups File Appeal Aimed at Increased Regulation of Ag Drainage in Minnesota

Groups are pushing back against a Minnesota regulatory agency in an effort to treat the state's agricultural tile drainage systems as disposal systems.

After being denied action earlier in the year, the groups, led by the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy, are taking their case to the Minnesota Court of Appeals, saying the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has a duty and obligation to protect water quality in Minnesota.

USDA Announces $65M in Innovative Projects that Help Farmers Improve their Operations & Conserve Natural Resources 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $65 million in 34 Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) projects, which support the development of new tools, approaches, practices and technologies to further natural resource conservation on private lands.

Conservation Innovation Grants are supported by the Working Families Tax Cuts Act (WFTCA), which increased funding for farm bill conservation programs, like the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), which funds CIG.

LICA's View: The Times, They Are A-Changin'

As the president of LICA, the author reflects on the evolution of technology in earthmoving and the changing dynamics of association involvement. The shift from traditional methods to modern technologies like RTK has significantly enhanced productivity.

7 Articles to Make You a Better Boss and Leader

Whether you’ve been the boss for 20 minutes or 20 years, there is always more to learn about managing a productive, cohesive team and maintaining a positive work environment. From micromanaging to feeling confident in your crew while on vacation, these articles will help you hone your leadership style, boost employee retention and foster a healthy company culture.

Trump Administration Announces $8 Billion Harvest Fuel Relief Program

President Donald J. Trump, alongside U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins, announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will make $8 billion available for one-time payments to American farmers this harvest season to provide relief during temporary market disruptions and increased input costs.

Funding Shortages & Growing Demand Stall Illinois Conservation Efforts

For 20 years, Kara Downin has been puzzling out the perfect conservation program or partner for landowners in Knox County, Illinois, who come to her seeking help with their land. As a resource conservationist at the county Soil and Water Conservation District, Downin's goal and passion is to protect natural resources and support the agricultural community as she advises landowners about the resources and programs best suited to their needs.

These Drainage Practices Can Cut Nitrate Loss From Farm Fields

When Tim Recker installed his first saturated buffer in 2010, the northeast Iowa farmer wanted to know whether it was actually doing anything to the water quality leaving his field.

Testing showed it reduced nitrate levels from a single tile outlet by 75% or more. “It opened my eyes,” said Recker, who farms in Fayette County.

ISAP Gathers for Full Partner Planning Meeting

This week, ISAP members gathered at Lakeland Community College for a full partner meeting where they discussed plans and priorities for 2027. The Partnership, which gathers in-person twice a year, reviewed achievements of 2026, including recruiting a new cohort of the Soil Health Leadership Program, launching a Batch and Build pilot program in Knox County...

The Return Visit Begins at the First Service Call

The operational failure does not occur simply because a return visit is needed. It occurs when the second visit begins without a reliable account of the first.

A useful return-visit record should answer three questions before anyone drives back to the property: What was found? What was decided? What must happen next?

Risks of Minimal Insurance Can Wipe Out Good Construction Businesses With One Incident

For a small construction contractor, a single catastrophic loss — a defective job, equipment collision or employee injury — can quickly surpass total liability insurance limits.

The risk of underinsuring a company, especially when construction costs and labor shortages are at an all-time high, can easily devastate a contractor and force him or her to shut the business doors.

Beyond the Outlet: How Lateral Seepage Shapes Controlled Drainage Performance in a Sandy Soil

Controlled drainage (CD) is used in temperate humid regions to reduce water and nutrient losses. Although CD effectiveness has been widely evaluated, the role of lateral seepage in sandy soils remains underexplored and neglecting it may overestimate reductions in water and nutrient losses.

Narrower Tile Spacing: Smart Investment or Expensive Fix?

As spring rainfall events intensify and suitable fieldwork windows shorten, some producers are responding by installing tile systems with spacings as narrow as 15 to 20 feet. But is narrower always better?

Water Control Structures Part of New USDA Wetlands Funding

Water quality concerns in the Midwest persist for farmers and landowners, contractors and civilians alike.

But a new commitment of funding from the USDA looks to enable further steps in conservation in the region.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has pledged $5M to help landowners restore wetlands and floodplains that fall on their properties, that have been protected under conservation easements.

Roger Watwood Announces Retirement

After 18 years with JULIE as the Southern Illinois Damage Prevention Manager, Roger Watwood has announced that he will be retiring effective January 29, 2027. Prior to joining JULIE in 2008, Roger worked for the City of Marshall and previously served on JULIE’s Board of Directors. While Roger’s focus has been on southern Illinois, he has been instrumental in updating the IIllinois Underground Utility Facilities Damage Prevention Act and supporting damage prevention across the state.

Illinois Researcher to Test Fertilizers in Tile-Drained Conditions

A research team at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign will study fertilizer performance in Midwestern growing conditions, focusing on tile-drained corn systems. Faculty members Andrew Margenot and John Jones will lead projects on nitrogen and phosphorus management, supported by nearly $1.6 million from the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research's Efficient Fertilizer Consortium.

How Plant Roots Hold Soil in Place & Help Prevent Streambank Erosion

Stable streambanks are an important aspect of watershed management in Illinois. Across the state, we are experiencing increased rainfall and intensifying storms as the effects of climate change continue to ramp up.

These changes create additional strain on Illinois streambanks, leading to increased erosion and changes in streamflow capacity, and, in extreme cases, the loss of land area.

Tax-Smart Building Improvements

If your business is planning improvements to a building before year end, careful planning may allow you to maximize your 2026 tax deduction. A special safe harbor can allow qualifying small businesses to deduct such expenditures currently — but only if expenses don’t exceed the applicable limit.

What Farms Learn by Measuring the Water That Leaves Them

Farmers who adopt cover crops, split nitrogen applications or install saturated buffers want to know whether the work is paying off in cleaner water. Regulators want the same answer, and so do the processors and co-ops that buy from those farms.