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News
Optimizing Saturated Buffers for Nitrogen Reduction
Saturated buffers are an innovative conservation drainage practice designed to reduce nitrate losses from agricultural drainage systems. By rerouting tile drainage water through a vegetated buffer area, these systems remove nitrate from the water, significantly improving water quality.
Government Shutdown Continues - Some Construction Projects Paused
The faceoff between Republicans and Democrats in the Senate shows little progress in finding a compromise that would allow the Federal government to reopen shuttered offices as the impasse enters its third week. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) continues to bring the House passed continuing resolution(CR) up for a vote in an attempt to get the eight democrat votes needed to pass the measure.
DOT Withholds California Funding Over English Requirement for Truckers
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Oct. 15 he will withhold $40 million from California because it is failing to enforce English-language requirements for truckers. DOT launched an investigation into state commercial driver’s license (CDL) requirement enforcement following a deadly Florida crash involving a foreign truck driver who made an illegal U-turn.
LICA Supports Effort to Prevent Minnesota Permitting Requirements for Agricultural Drainage
LICA and Minnesota LICA are participating in an effort to dissuade the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) from attempting to regulate public agricultural drainage systems under the State Disposal System (SDS) permit program. LICA has joined the effort initiated by the Agriculture Drainage Management Coalition (ADMC) requesting that a petition from a coalition of environmental groups for the permitting requirements be declined.
Why No-Touch Tools are Critical in Trench Shoring Operations
Underground construction sites are high-risk environments where workers routinely interact with suspended loads, heavy materials, and moving equipment. These tasks often require guiding, aligning, or steadying objects by hand, which puts workers directly in harm’s way.
Using ACPF Output Maps to Foster More Impactful Conservation Conversations
Effective communication is essential to advancing the adoption of agricultural conservation practices. One powerful tool that supports these efforts is the Agricultural Conservation Planning Framework (ACPF)—a science-based, data-driven approach to watershed planning that helps stakeholders visualize conservation opportunities and better understand the landscape.
ADMC Responds to Petition for Rulemaking on Agricultural Drainage
The Agricultural Drainage Management Coalition (ADMC) will submit a formal response to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) regarding the petition for rulemaking filed on August 28, 2025. The petition seeks to classify public drainage systems as “State Disposal Systems” (SDS) requiring MPCA permits under Chapter 115 of Minnesota Statutes.
Iowa State Extension Issues Guide to Prepare for GPS Datum Shift
In 2026, big changes are coming to the geodetic reference systems “datums” behind the global positioning system (GPS). This could mean big changes for farmers who use GPS for precision agriculture, as well as surveying or constructions. The changes may affect A-B lines, boundaries and other mapped data, such as tile drainage.
Quantifying Microplastics in Environmental Waters: Mass Concentrations are Superior to Abundance
Microplastics are contaminants of global concern that are primarily studied in marine and urban environments. Understanding of microplastics in drained agricultural watersheds is lacking. We aimed to evaluate microplastics in ditch and tile drainage water through periodic sampling.
Water Quality a Priority for Farmers and Ranchers
Water is a crucial resource for farmers and ranchers. Beyond keeping their crops, forage and livestock healthy and growing, the water used on the farm is also part of their families’ and communities’ water supply. This Market Intel details the many ways farmers and ranchers protect water quality.
Take the NSC Safety Maturity and Approach Profile
2 Important Changes for Businesses under the New Tax Law
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) introduces a range of tax changes that will impact businesses. Many provisions set to expire this year are now being extended or made permanent. Below is a snapshot of two important changes to help you with tax planning in the fourth quarter of 2025 and going forward.
IDOA Launches New CPRG-Climate Smart Agriculture Program
The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA) and the Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) have announced $67 million in funding to offer cost-share/financial incentives to producers and landowners who will implement no-till or strip-till starting in the fall of 2025.
Legislation Allowing Visas for Migrant Workers in Construction & Agriculture Introduced
A bipartisan bill has been introduced in the House that would allow visas to be given to migrant workers in sectors, like construction and agriculture , that are facing acute worker shortages. The “Essential Workers for Economic Advancement Act”, or EWEA, would provide temporary visas valid for three years, with two potential three-year renewals.
No End In-Sight for Government Shutdown
As the government shutdown enters its second week there is no deal in sight to end the impasse. Punchbowl news reports the Senate will vote this week - for the fifth time - on advancing the House-passed Continuing resolution (CR) to fund federal agencies through Nov. 21.
Read morehttps://www.licanational.com/no-end-in-sight-for-government-shutdown-usda-services-reduced-fhwa-less-impacted/
Trimble Announces Martin Equipment as Technology Outlet for Ill., Iowa, Mo.
Trimble partners with Martin Equipment as a Technology Outlet in Ill., Iowa, and Mo. Customers can now purchase and receive support for Trimble technology directly from Martin, enhancing job site productivity for earthmoving equipment users. Martin Equipment's commitment to exceptional service extends to offering Trimble grade control solutions.
Drain for the Cure Is Back for 2025 and Bigger Than Ever
Started in 2014, Springfield Plastics’ Drain for the Cure campaign has raised more than $1,000,000
over the years to help in the fight against cancer. Last year’s campaign raised over $182,000, and
the hope is to surpass that number this year.
ADMC Meets with NRCS Chief Bettencourt to Discuss Priorities to Improve Practice Delivery for Farmers
The Agricultural Drainage Management Coalition (ADMC) met with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Chief Aubrey Bettencourt on Friday, September 26th to discuss strategies for maximizing the effectiveness of the recent Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the two organizations.
Iowa Farm Poll Reveals Farmers' Shifting Views About Conservation & Water Quality
A new report examines Iowa farmers’ awareness and opinions related to the state’s strategy to cut nutrient runoff in waterways. The majority support more conservation, but their numbers have softened over the last decade.
Maintaining the Edge: Control Structure Management
Learn the basics to managing and maintaining your water control structure.
Lessons from a Watershed-Level Water Management Project
Large-scale drainage projects can be challenging to co-ordinate, but are better if more people are involved.
The Ontario Soil Network’s 2025 Huron County tour visited the watershed and learned some of the lessons from the project from Harrison Burgsma, who farms in the area.
Controlled Drainage Not Just for Flat Fields Anymore: Michigan Report
Controlled drainage – the practice of using either an automated or manual control system to drain from fields more selectively, thus accounting for dryer periods where more reserves are necessary – has long been recommended for relatively flat fields. Slopes can make the practice complicated, although not impossible.
More An Art Than A Science
Terraced drainage (terraces) has long been recognized as an effective way to reduce runoff and soil erosion. Terraces block the downward flow at key intervals, which reduces surface water velocity and, thus, erosion. In its purest form, it has been used in Asia for as long as 2,300 years.
DOT DBE Program Implementation Uncertain
The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) is the first state to ask the US DOT to waive its requirements for the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program since a court ruled the requirements are likely unconstitutional.
Federal Funding Battle Continues as October 1 Shutdown Deadline Approaches
Little progress has been made in the effort to come to an agreement on Fiscal Year 2026 funding. With little time left before the start of the Fiscal Year on October 1, the House and Senate are no closer to a compromise and are in recess all week. Before recessing, the House passed a GOP-drafted “clean” bill to extend government funding until Nov. 21 at current funding levels with no policy changes included.
Skinny Farm Bill Being Considered
A “skinny” farm bill is being considered to complete action on parts of the traditional Farm Bill that have not yet been addressed. The pared-down version of the traditional five-year farm bill, designed to address only the most urgent or unfinished agricultural priorities could be brought up this year.
McMaster Approved as Next FHWA Administrator
The U.S. Senate confirmed Sean McMaster as administrator of the Federal Highway Administration on September 18 in a 51 to 47 vote. McMaster – a former executive with the Boeing aerospace company and also a former vice president with infrastructure consulting firm HNTB – stressed in his hearing in May that safety would be his top priority at FHWA as he seeks to guide the agency in its mission to build and restore roads, bridges, and tunnels across the nation.
Rethinking Iowa’s Drainage: Building Resilience with Two-Stage Ditches
After a heavy rain, Iowa’s network of drainage ditches goes to work. Water infiltrates into the soil, flows to subsurface tile drains beneath farm fields and then into open ditches downstream. Together, this drainage network lowers water tables, maintains unsaturated soil conditions, and moves water efficiently after storms. It allows farmers to return to their fields more quickly while also carrying stormwater away from roads, culverts, and homes – potentially reducing local flooding risks.
Limiting Nitrate Loss with Successful Nutrient and Cover Crop Management
Nitrogen loss from agriculture is a primary source of water quality issues in Illinois and Midwestern states. Management considerations such as 4R Nutrient Stewardship and integrating cover crops can help reduce the potential for loss throughout the year. In addition to helping reduce nitrogen loss, effective integration of cover crops can also provide significant soil health and agronomic benefits.
Woodchip Bioreactor Helps Peoria Area Farmer Reduce Nitrogen Runoff
Although the 11-by-44-foot hole on Ethan Koehler’s farm could be mistaken for a swimming pool, it’s actually a woodchip bioreactor under construction.
The 5-foot-deep pit, showcased during the Marshall-Putnam Nutrient Stewardship Field Day Aug. 19, will soon begin capturing nitrogen from about 16 acres of tile-drained cropland in Marshall County.
Search Launched for Women’s Legacies
For generations, the women of the agricultural community/industry have shared their knowledge and commitment to their family farms, their rural communities and to their legacies, both prior generations and subsequent generations that will carry on their remarkable family legacy. Illinois Agri-Women are seeking these unique families of women, who find joy in the work they do and have committed their lives to agriculture for three or more generations.
Saturated Buffers: Proven Practice with New Surprises
A saturated buffer is a conservation drainage practice that targets nitrate in tile drainage discharge. A new Michigan State University study used a paired-field approach to compare a saturated buffer to a free drainage control field. This method allowed researchers to isolate the effects of subsurface buffer flow and controlled drainage, something previous studies couldn’t do.
Ninth Circuit Upholds Clean Water Act Exemption for Irrigated Agriculture
In a decision with major implications for Western agriculture, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld the Clean Water Act exemption for irrigation return flows. The ruling in Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations v. Nickels affirms that discharges from irrigated agriculture are exempt from federal permitting requirements so long as they do not include additional point source discharges unrelated to crop production.
Conservation Practices in 2025 Scenarios: Implications for Future US Agricultural Policy
Nearly 25 years ago, the Journal of Soil and Water Conservation published an article explaining three alternative scenarios for Iowa Corn Belt landscapes in the United States in 2025—each driven by distinctly different agricultural policy emphases (Nassauer, Corry, and Cruse Citation2002). It is timely to revisit this work now when conservation funding through 2031, along with several other aspects of past farm bills, have been codified in the 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), but the extension of the 2018 farm bill is about to expire.
A GLRI Demonstration Project is Showing How Drainage Water Recycling Can Increase Yields for Farmers
While drainage can have numerous benefits to farmers, it can also have unintended negative impacts on the environment. Most notably, nitrogen and phosphorus can escape fields through drain tile and contribute to water quality issues—especially in intensively drained agricultural regions like the western Lake Erie watershed.
NACD Comments on USDA Reorganization
Conservation districts work side-by-side with USDA partners in local communities across the country, giving them unique insights into the impacts of USDA programs at the local, state, and national levels. As USDA considers changes affecting the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Forest Service, and mission support functions, we offer the following comments, questions, and recommendations.
Construction Suicide Prevention Week
September 2025 has been designated National Suicide Awareness Month and the construction industry has responded with Construction Suicide Prevention Week to address the unique problems within the industry.
Tips for Locating Underground Utilities Before Excavation Work
Municipal infrastructure managers and maintenance crew chiefs face growing challenges when it comes to safely performing excavation, digging or maintenance work. With an ever-expanding web of underground utilities, including water, sewer, drainage, fiber, electrical and gas lines, the risk of damaging critical infrastructure has never been higher.
Paired-field Evaluation of a Saturated Buffer Reveals Significant Water-Quality Benefits Through Upstream Weir Management
This study looked at how well saturated buffers—an agricultural conservation drainage practice—reduce nitrate pollution in farm runoff compared to free drainage. Researchers found that the upstream weir, which controls water levels before it enters the buffer, plays a bigger role in cleaning the water than previously thought.
Conservation Practices to Reduce Nitrogen Runoff into the Gulf of Mexico
While nitrogen application is necessary to grow healthy crops, only about 40-50% of applied nitrogen is absorbed by those crops. The rest goes into waterways, breaks down in the soil, or is converted and released as greenhouse gas. That’s where conservation drainage comes in.
Springfield Plastics Opens New Distribution Yard in Indiana
Springfield Plastics, Inc., a leading tile drainage manufacturer, is pleased to announce that our new 13-acre distribution yard and 1,440-sq.-ft. office and warehouse are now open in North Manchester, Indiana (1139 Taylor St.).
Drainage Contractor Tackles Drainage for the Future
A special, free e-book gives an overview of drainage for a changing climate and world, featuring interviews from recent Drainage Contractor features and columns, GroundBreakers and the North American Drainage Conference.
Controlled Drainage Isn't Just for Flat Fields Anymore
Controlled drainage has long been recommended for relatively flat fields, but new research from Michigan State University is challenging that recommendation. A recent paired-field study evaluated controlled drainage on a field where only 6.6% of the field was under water management and found a surprising 48% reduction in nitrate load.
FY 2026 Federal Funding Deadline Approaches – No Deal In Sight
Congress returned from its August recess last week and took no action on putting together a plan to avoid a Federal government shutdown. There are now 22 days until the end of the federal fiscal year when the government runs out of funding authority.
Post Pandemic Construction Boom Cools - Inflation, Tariffs, Worker Shortage Impact Industry
Injections of federal funding, coupled with pent-up demand from the pandemic shutdowns, created a robust construction market in 2022 and 2023. In 2024, signs of market softening began and continues into 2025.
Visas Blocked for Foreign Truck Drivers
Effective immediately, the Trump administration is blocking foreign drivers from obtaining visas to drive commercial trucks on U.S. roads. “We are pausing all issuance of worker visas for commercial truck drivers,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced via X on Aug. 21. “The increasing number of foreign drivers operating large tractor-trailer trucks on U.S. roads is endangering American lives and undercutting the livelihoods of American truckers.”
US DOT Seeks Input on Highway Reauthorization Legislation
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) recently issued a Request for Information (RFI) seeking public input on issues that should be addressed when Congress takes up reauthorization of the surface transportation legislation over the next year. The information will help DOT prepare its proposal for the reauthorization effort.
Agriculture Reorganization Plan Gets Pushback
Union locals representing USDA employees are calling on the Trump administration to release a cost-benefit analysis behind the department’s reorganization plan. The plan calls for USDA to relocate thousands of staff from Washington, D.C., to five regional hubs: Raleigh, Kansas City, Indianapolis, Fort Collins, and Salt Lake City.
The Need for Farm Drainage and the Current Problem
Farm drain tiles are vitally crucial to the success of Illinois crop production. These underground drainage systems help provide good soil-based crop growing conditions by removing excess water from the soil. A balanced mixture of air, water, and soil is crucial for plant health, as excessive moisture can impede growth.
Role of Employers in Preventing Suicides
Suicide is a critical public health issue in the United States and a leading cause of death among working age adults. Creating a workplace culture of health and safety includes mental health.
Another Feather in Bioreactors' Caps
Tile drainage is a common practice used in agricultural fields to remove excess water, but it also transports harmful nutrients into water bodies, contributing to algal blooms that deprive aquatic life of oxygen. Woodchip bioreactors are an efficient way to reduce nitrogen pollution by treating the water as it exits the field.
Weather, Water Quality and Farmer-Led Solutions
Iowa State University's Mike Castellano discusses the factors driving nitrate levels in 2025 and how farmers are collaborating to improve outcomes.
2025 Pipeline Awareness Newsletter Released
The 2025 Pipeline Awareness Newsletter has been mailed to approximately 40,000 Public Officials. Download your pdf copy today!
Did You Know? NACD Staff are Available to Support Your Work
Did you know that every NACD region is staffed by an NACD Region Representative who can connect you to NACD resources, help provide learning and networking opportunities, and ensure your state or territory’s priorities are heard and represented in NACD’s advocacy efforts?
While all of NACD’s staff members are available to answer questions at any time, our seven NACD Region Representatives are a great first contact point in our organization.
Extending the Lifespan of Edge-of-Field Practices
Edge-of-field (EOF) practices are becoming increasingly common in Iowa's agricultural landscapes. Installed for a variety of conservation benefits, including improved water quality, habitat enhancement and flood mitigation, these practices play a critical role in sustainable land management.
Senate Ag Committee Examines USDA Reorganization Proposal
The Senate Agriculture Committee held a quickly scheduled hearing last week to examine the Trump Administration’s proposal to reorganize the Department of Agriculture (USDA). The plan calls for USDA to relocate thousands of staff from Washington, D.C., to five regional hubs: Raleigh, Kansas City, Indianapolis, Fort Collins, and Salt Lake City.
Agriculture & Transportation FY 2026 Funding Bills Move Forward - Government Shutdown Possible
Congress will return from its summer recess and attempt to complete action on the FY 2026 federal budget having thus far taken limited action on the 12 annual appropriations bills. Although some appropriations bills have advanced earlier than in recent years significant differences in funding levels threatens the possibility of a government shutdown.
Improved Water Quality & Crop Yields Through Managed Tile Drainage Systems
Find the practice that matches your goals.
Gulf of America 'Dead Zone' Below Average, Scientists Find
NOAA-supported scientists announced today that this year’s Gulf of America “dead zone” — an area of low to no oxygen that can kill fish and marine life — is approximately 4,402 square miles, 21% smaller than estimates from early June and the 15th smallest measurement on record. This equates to roughly 2.8 million acres of habitat potentially unavailable to fish and bottom-dwelling species, a reduction of 30% from the previous year.
Fratco’s Focus Remains Strong Amidst Proposed NRCS Cutbacks
A recent budget proposal from the White House has sparked uncertainty throughout the ag community, especially around the future of USDA field offices and conservation programs. The plan includes potential staffing reductions and restructuring at key agencies like the Farm Service Agency (FSA) and Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).
Paired-Field Evaluation of a Saturated Buffer Reveals Significant Water-Quality Benefits
Past studies evaluating the conservation drainage practice of saturated buffers (SB) have used the water flowing over the upstream weir as a control, assuming that upstream weir management does not reduce flow and nitrate load. The objectives are to (1) investigate whether the upstream weir functions as controlled drainage (CD) to provide water-quality benefits beyond those from the buffer flow (BF, defined as water diverted into the buffer), and (2) evaluate the performance of the SB system under high (shallow) and low (deep) weir management levels.
Enforcing Accountability: Defending Utility Damage Claims When the Excavator Is Not at Fault
In today’s excavation landscape, defending against utility damage claims hinges not just on good intentions or common practices, but on enforceable documentation—collected before any damage occurs. Without a comprehensive, well-documented file demonstrating the excavator acted responsibly and adhered to best practices, claims defense becomes an uphill battle.
House & Senate Continue Hearings on Highway Bill Reauthorization
With the expiration date for the current surface transportation legislation just over a year away, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee conducted the latest in a series of hearings to identify issues that need to be addressed when drafting the reauthorization proposal. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the Administration will be submitting a formal proposal of its policy recommendations but broadly outlined the Trump administration plans for freight connectivity improvements, highway safety projects and regulatory changes to speed up project delivery.
Trump Administration Unveils USDA Reorganization Focused on Streamlining & Decentralization
On July 24, 2025, Agriculture Secretary Brooke L. Rollins announced a sweeping reorganization of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) as part of the broader Trump “government efficiency” agenda. The plan would relocate over 2,600 of the roughly 4,600 Washington, D.C.–area employees to five new regional hubs—Raleigh, Kansas City, Indianapolis, Fort Collins, and Salt Lake City—while retaining only about 2,000 staff in the capital.
Agencies Move to Implement NEPA Reform to Accelerate Infrastructure Delivery
In early 2025, President Trump issued an Executive Order rescinding all National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) implementing regulations and instructed federal agencies to issue new procedures prioritizing “efficiency and certainty” in environmental reviews. The NEPA process has long been a procedural burden significantly slowing down the delivery of vital infrastructure improvements.
A Contractor's Guide to Inspecting Used Equipment
It doesn’t take long to evaluate a used car or truck, but inspecting a piece of used equipment – whether it’s a beater or nearly new – requires several hours to a half a day. Anything you miss and have to repair or replace later will cost thousands if not tens of thousands of dollars.
To aid in this process, Equipment World has compiled the following printable used equipment checklist and an accompanying guide on performing key checks.
Quantitative Synthesis of the Denitrifying Bioreactor Hydraulic Retention Time
Denitrifying woodchip bioreactors consistently exhibit a strong positive relationship between hydraulic retention time (HRT) and nitrate (N) removal efficiency (NRE), expressed as a percent. This robust HRT-NRE linear regression provides an empirical tool for simply estimating bioreactor performance, but regression parameters (slope, y-intercept) vary across studies.
Clean Water Starts Upstream
A watershed is all the land that drains into a common body of water — like a river, lake, or stream. When it rains or snows, water flows downhill. In forests or grasslands, most of that water soaks into the ground. But in cities or on farm fields, water moves quickly across pavement or soil, picking up pollution as it goes.
6 Tips to Build a Culture of Safety
In construction, safety isn’t something you check off a list during orientation. It’s a constant, evolving part of the job — no matter how long you’ve been in the industry or what role you play. Whether someone’s just getting started or has been on sites for decades, there’s always more to learn and reinforce.
From keeping things simple to encouraging mentorship and celebrating the wins, here’s how to build a culture where safety sticks.
USDA Cuts Hit RCPP Grant Projects
USDA last month cut more than $1 billion in expected grant funding to 69 Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) projects nationally.
Few groups publicly criticized the funding loss.
In October 2024, the Biden administration announced USDA would invest $1.5 billion in 92 projects through RCPP, the largest funding ever for the program. The list of grant awards relied heavily on funding USDA had received from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).
NAXSA Tips from the Trench: Cleaning, Storing & Testing Pipe Plugs
NAXSA’s Safety Committee members develop these Tips from the Trench to help ensure that the best frontline know-how becomes the facts and solutions you need. At a glance. In the office or in the field. On your laptop, desktop, or mobile device.
Maintaining the Edge
This manual is a straightforward guide to keeping your saturated buffer or bioreactor operating as designed to improve water quality. The checklists at the end of each section are a quick reference for all the operations and maintenance tasks you’ll need to do throughout the year. Individual sections on managing control structures, seasonal management, saturated buffers, and bioreactors provide more information.
From the ADMC: A Vision for Progress
As the executive director of the Agricultural Drainage Management Coalition (ADMC), I am honored and excited to assume the role of chair of the Conservation Drainage Network (CDN). This dual position offers a unique opportunity to influence and advance the field of agricultural water management by aligning both organizations’ efforts to disseminate information, set research priorities, and advocate for the effectiveness of drainage practices.
Study: Could Some Drainage Mitigation Measures be More Harmful Than Helpful?
More than half of mitigation efforts to reduce the environmental impact of subsurface drainage are effective, according to a recent publication in Biological Conservation.
But just under a quarter are “insufficient,” according to the same study. And, in two cases, negative impacts were observed after the implication of some measures.
OSHA's 2025 Heat Safety Rule: What Every Employer Needs to Know
As climate change continues to crank up the heat, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is turning up the pressure on employers to protect workers from heat-related illnesses. In 2025, OSHA’s proposed Heat Injury and Illness Prevention Standard is making headlines—and for good reason.
Digging Deeper – Cover Crops & N2O Emissions
A pair of short-duration studies on Illinois fields suggestedhttps://ilsustainableag.org/resource/digging-deeper-cover-crops-n2o-emissions/ that cover crops reduce nitrate leaching (a win for water quality) but may increase nitrous oxide (N2O, a greenhouse gas). ISAP wanted to dig deeper into potential trade-offs and understand the environmental costs and benefits of cover crops.
Rescissions Bill Expected to Pass
Senate Republicans voted early Thursday morning to approve a rescissions package of $9 billion in spending cuts from previously approved funding. The House followed suit Friday and adopt the legislation giving the President another big legislative victory in less than a month. GOP Senate leaders quelled a revolt from members of the powerful Appropriations Committee who were concerned by the cuts.
Further NRCS Personnel Cuts Proposed in Administration's FY 2026 Budget
A Supreme Court decision last week said President Trump has the authority to cut the size and scope of the federal government allowing planned reductions in force to resume. In addition to those efforts, the administration’s 2026 budget request details how many employees the executive branch intends to cut in the coming year. It proposes a government wide 5 percent reduction in employees compared to the final year of the Biden administration.
How Ag Advisors Guide Conservation on the Ground
Advisors play a pivotal role in helping farmers adopt in-field conservation practices. On July 9, ICCON explored the question, “what makes an advisor truly effective?” The panel discussion brought together three seasoned professionals to share their strategies and experiences.
Reconciliation Provisions Impacting LICA Members
Following Senate and House approval of the “One Big Beautiful Bill” the President signed the measure in a White House ceremony on July 4th. The legislation implements the President’s domestic policy priorities by extending and enhancing the 2017 tax cuts, increases initiatives to enhance border security, increases investments in defense programs and targets reductions in other Federal programs.
Can Conservation Drainage Practices Contribute to Climate Change Mitigation?
Conservation drainage practices can mitigate water quality impacts of subsurface drainage, but their potential for climate change mitigation remains poorly understood. We summarized processes by which tile-drained croplands impact climate and assessed potential of conservation drainage practices to alter emissions of the greenhouse gases nitrous oxide (N2O) and methane (CH4) and stocks of soil organic carbon (SOC), compared using carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2e).
Key Tax Law Changes for Individuals and Businesses Under the OBBBA
On July 4, President Trump signed into law the far-reaching legislation known as the One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). As expected, it extends and enhances many of the tax breaks from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA). It also includes several of Trump's campaign promises — though many are only temporary — and eliminates tax breaks related to clean energy. Here's a rundown of some of the main tax law changes to be aware of as you plan for the 2025 tax year.
NOAA Shows Mild to Moderate Algal Bloom for Lake Erie in 2025
“It’s showing that we’ve made some progress, but we still have some room to go,” he says. “We have reduced the amount of dissolved reactive phosphorus, which fuels the algal bloom. With the amount of rain inside, they expected more phosphorus to go into the lake and we’ve had less, so that really means that what we’re doing is working.”
Ag, Biofuels Laud House-Passed Big, Beautiful Bill's 45Z Clean Fuels Production Tax Credit Modifications
The bill expected to be signed by President Donald Trump on Friday, extends the 45Z by two years through the end of 2029, restricts 45Z eligibility to fuels made from feedstocks grown in the U.S., Canada and Mexico, retains full transferability throughout the term of the credit, and harmonizes indirect land use change emissions with actual data and evidence, resulting in no ILUC penalty for corn ethanol.
States Weigh-In on DOT DBE Program Future
A coalition of 21 state attorneys general and the Arizona state legislature urged a Kentucky federal court to approve a proposal from the U.S. Department of Transportation that would end core provisions of its Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program, reports the American Road and Transportation Builders Assn (ARTBA).
ICE Enforcement of Farms/Construction Sites to Continue
Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents will continue to conduct inspections of ag operations and other workplaces, including construction sites, but will focus on criminal activity, White House border czar Tom Homan announced.
OBBB Criticized As Benefiting Large Farmers At Expense of Small Ones
The “big, beautiful” reconciliation bill would overwhelmingly benefit large farms at the expense of small ones, some farm program critics told reporters on Wednesday, as reported by Agri Pulse. “This legislation that the ag committees have produced is clear "fiscal malpractice” said Josh Sewell of Taxpayers for Common Sense.
July 4 Deadline for Reconciliation Uncertain
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) is sticking to his ambitious schedule of getting the reconciliation legislation to President Trump’s desk by July 4, even as he faces objections from GOP colleagues and the Senate parliamentarian to key provisions in the bill.
Construction Worker Dies After Trench Collapse in East Texas
A construction worker has died after a trench collapse incident occurred on Wednesday morning in Mabank.
According to the Mabank Police Department, at around 10:30 a.m., authorities were dispatched to the 1000 block of North State Highway 198 after reports of a construction site accident.
Drainage Water Recycling At The Dudley Smith Farm Field Day
Many research projects and presentations were shown at the 2025 Dudley Smith Farm Field Day, one of which centered around “drainage water recycling.” Farmers know better than anyone that too much or too little water, is never a good thing. Caleb Bruhn, PhD Candidate of Biological and Agricultural Engineering with the University of Illinois, is looking into new water management practices.
Conservation Drainage in Denmark: A Thread by Chris Hay
The International Interdisciplinary Conference on Land Use and Water Quality Conference took place in Aarhus, Denmark from June 3 – 6, 2025. ADMC member Chris Hay of Hay Water Solutions, LLC attended the conference and posted a great summary of the field tours on LinkedIn. Chris was kind enough to provide his posts for a guest blog to ADMC for a showcase of international practices.
Design & Performance Characteristics of an In-Stream Woodchip Denitrifying Bioreactor
Woodchip denitrifying bioreactors (WDBs) are an established edge-of-field practice for mitigating nitrogen (N) loads in agricultural drainage waters. Of the published ‘in-stream’ WDB case studies, many have suffered hydraulic failure due to siltation and clogging. In this study we present a very large (450 m3) in-stream WDB of a modular design that sought to incorporate clogging management features.
Springfield Plastics Names Jennifer Furkin President
Springfield Plastics, Inc., a leading tile drainage manufacturer, is pleased to announce that Jennifer Furkin has been named president of Springfield Plastics, stepping into the role that Steve Baker held for nearly 30 years. Furkin has been on the Springfield Plastics team for 25 years, most recently serving as vice president.
Administration Unveils Plan for Tech Focused Permit Reforms
The Council on Environmental Quality issued its Permitting Technology Action Plan, which seeks to modernize federal environmental review and permitting processes for a wide range of infrastructure projects, according to a White House press release. The action fulfills a directive from President Trump for agencies to make maximum use of technology in federal environmental reviews and permitting processes, according to the CEQ’s Permitting Innovation Center website.
Senate Continues Reconciliation Negotiations
Senators have been meeting all week in an attempt to find common ground on a reconciliation package that will implement much of President Trump’s domestic policy agenda. It is still very unclear what the Senate’s reconciliation bill will look like. Punch news reports that Senate Republicans are looking to rewrite two of the hardest-fought provisions in the House’s bill.
Secretary Rollins Defends Department Personnel Cuts at Senate Hearing
Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins defended her record at a wide-ranging House Agriculture Committee hearing this week that touched on trade, personnel reductions at USDA, and cuts to nutrition programs. She repeatedly mentioned her travel abroad and attempts to open foreign markets to U.S. farm goods and said, as she has before, that the previous administration had vastly increased the workforce at USDA, making it necessary to cut back.
Illinois Field Day Features Drainage Water Recycling
On June 18, farmers, producers and consumers alike were invited to a free event held by the University of Illinois in Christian County to showcase the advances made in sustainable agricultural practices at the Dudley Smith Farm at the farm’s annual field day.
Topics this year included profitable nitrogen management, livestock grazing management, cover crop and water quality management and drainage water recycling.
Worker Dies After Collapse of 5-Foot-Deep Trench in Connecticut
Michael DiRocco Sr., 60, of Norwich was partially buried around 6:15 p.m. June 13 in a 5-foot-deep trench that caved in on a residential sewer-line installation project. It marks at least the eighth trench-collapse death this year in the U.S. and happened just before the industry entered the national Trench Safety Stand Down this week.
1 Worker Dies, 1 Injured When Hit by Excavator Buckets in Trenches
The most recent incident occurred at about 8:30 a.m. June 3 in Woodland, Washington, when a worker was in a 15-foot-deep trench, and an excavator bucket landed on him, causing traumatic injury, according to fire department and media reports.