Illinois Land Improvement Contractors Association, Inc.
News
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.
IRA Funds Appear to be Headed to Conservation Programs
Against all odds, it appears that money set aside in the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 for climate-smart agriculture programs may be headed for programs included in the Conservation Title of the next farm bill.
According to a recent analysis by Bloomberg, the U.S. House reconciliation plan budget would increase the funding for the four major conservation programs in Title II of the farm bill by $1 billion to more than $6 billion.
Edge of Field Practices Complement Conservation Efforts
Promoting healthy soil and water does not stop at the field’s edge. Gaining popularity in recent years are edge-of-field practices, designed to complement your existing conservation system and keep your inputs in the field.
Central Iowa Officials Ban Lawn Watering to Avoid Potential 'Water Crisis'
Central Iowa Water Works officials on Thursday imposed a ban on lawn watering. The ban is effective immediately and in place until further notice for the 600,000 residential and commercial customers the regional water authority serves.
NOAA Forecasts an Average Summer 'Dead Zone' in Gulf of America
NOAA is forecasting this summer’s Gulf of America (formerly Gulf of Mexico) “dead zone” to be average-sized, covering approximately 5,574 square miles — an area roughly three times the size of Delaware. The dead zone, or hypoxic zone, is an area of low oxygen that can kill fish and other marine life. It occurs every summer and is primarily a result of excess nutrient pollution from human activities in cities and farm areas throughout the Mississippi-Atchafalaya watershed.
What's Your Business Exit Strategy?
Ever since you became a business owner, you’ve focused on growing revenue, managing expenses and leveraging tax advantages. But don’t overlook a critical element of your long-term financial well-being, that is, a business exit strategy. Ideally, your exit strategy will help you meet your retirement and estate planning goals.
Design & Performance of an In Stream Woodchip Denitrifying Bioreactor Treating Agricultural Drainage
Woodchip denitrifying bioreactors (WDBs) are an established edge-of-field practice for mitigating nitrogen losses in agricultural watersheds. WDBs also have potential to remove other aquatic contaminants associated with farming.
Invest in Your Kids' or Grandkids' Future with Help from the Tax Code
If you’re thinking about helping a child or grandchild pay for school, you’re not alone, and you’re not without help. While families have always saved for education, Section 529 plans have made it easier and more tax-efficient.
Conservation Funding Concerns in Illinois
The executive director of the Association of Illinois Soil & Water Conservation Districts says farmers are going to have less access to conservation expertise due to insufficient state funding.
Eliot Clay says for the second straight year, the state’s 97 local SWCD’s will receive only $4.5 million.
“We’re basically where we were at back in the ‘90s.”
Legacy Phosphorus - The Enduring Hidden Driver of Tile Drainage Loss
Lake Erie continues to have algal blooms in the summer because of excess phosphorus. There are various sources of phosphorus (P) entering Lake Erie, but agriculture is a dominant source. Recent research highlights the dominant role of legacy phosphorus (P) and the need for innovative solutions to protect water quality.
Shining a Spotlight on How Conservation Practices and Ag Tile Drainage Can Stop Nutrient Loss
Every quarter, a group of conservation professionals from non-profit groups, government agencies, and the tile drainage industry get together to share news and learn from one another. These 2-hour meetings are hosted by the Wetlands Initiative, but they are led by Wes Lehman. Wes is a sales rep and conservation specialist for Springfield Plastics, Inc.
Choosing the Optimal Accounting Method for Tax Savings
The accounting method your business uses to report income for tax purposes, either cash or accrual, can significantly impact your tax bill. While the cash method can offer tax-saving opportunities, the accrual method may in some cases be more appropriate or even required.
AISWCD: Second Year of Budget Cuts Threatens Future of Conservation Districts
The Association of Illinois Soil & Water Conservation Districts (AISWCD) is sounding the alarm as the FY26 Illinois state budget continues to underfund the state’s 97 Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs). For the second consecutive year, SWCDs will receive only $4.5 million — nearly a 50 percent reduction from FY24 levels and below what was budgeted more than 25 years ago — leaving many districts facing layoffs, service reductions, or even closure.
New Funding Opportunity Announced for Nonpoint Source Edge-of-Field Control Projects
Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA) Acting Director James Jennings today announced a new grant program, the Gulf Hypoxia Program (GHP) Priority Watershed Implementation, offering up to $788,000 in funding for nonpoint source (NPS) pollution edge-of-field control projects to prevent, eliminate, or reduce nitrate loads to Illinois' surface waters that serve as public water supply sources.
US DOT Agrees DBE Program Implementation Unconstitutional
The US Department of Transportation (US DOT) said in a court filing this week it has agreed to end consideration of race or gender in DOT’s Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program (DBE) program when awarding billions of dollars in federal highway and transit projects. USDOT agreed with plaintiffs in the suit that the DBE “program’s use of race- and sex-based presumptions in awarding contracts is unconstitutional."
Reconciliation Package Faces Strong Push Back in Senate
The House reconciliation bill, now officially called “One Big Beautiful Bill,” passed by a vote of 215-214 prior to the Memorial Day recess. It is intended to implement President Trump’s domestic agenda by extending expiring tax cuts; removing taxes on tips and overtime pay; increasing funding for border security, including continued construction of a border wall, and enhanced military funding, including a golden dome satellite defense system. In addition, the bill cuts spending on Medicaid, food aid, higher education and clean energy investments to pay for these new initiatives and to reduce overall federal expenditures.
Court Finds Swampbuster Rules Constitutional
Agri Pulse reports that a federal judge on Thursday upheld the constitutionality of the farm bill’s Swampbuster provision, which puts producers at risk of losing access to farm program benefits if caught destroying protected wetlands.
DOGE Spending Cuts to be Formalized in Future Legislation
This week President Trump indicted that the administration will send legislation to the Hill to formalize spending cuts made by the Elon Musk headed Department of Government Efficiency or DOGE. Those cuts would have to be done in subsequent rescissions and appropriations legislation, because of rules excluding changes to discretionary spending in the current budget reconciliation package.
Advanced Drainage Systems Announces Acquisition of River Valley Pipe
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc., a leading provider of innovative water management solutions in the stormwater and onsite septic wastewater industries announced today the acquisition of River Valley Pipe LLC, a privately-owned pipe manufacturing company located in the Midwest region of the United States.
Illinois State Police Announces Results of Commercial Motor Vehicle Detail
Illinois State Police (ISP) conducted a Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance detail on May 13-16, 2025. This commercial motor vehicle enforcement campaign occurred at fixed and portable scale locations in Cook, Will, Madison, Montgomery, and St. Clair Counties. Officers successfully enforced state and federal motor carrier safety regulations by conducting North American Standard Inspections and educated drivers on the importance of safe driving, seat belt use, and safe equipment.
Mentorship in Construction: Building Skills & Relationships on the Job Site
Contractors should strongly consider implementing a mentorship program within their companies, to not only build valuable skills but also to foster strong relationships that can benefit the entire organization.
Buffers & Bioreactors: What's the ROI?
A team at Iowa State University has been hard at work researching ways to make practices like saturated buffers and bioreactors cheaper and easier for landowners to install.
Researchers Study Conservation Practices
Research continues to increase the effectiveness of best management practices for improving water quality, while seeking to make practices cheaper and easier for landowners to install, say researchers at Iowa State University.
Mapping Tile Lines Can Help with Future Maintenance
A ag educator says farmers can benefit from knowing more about drain tile, and the location of older systems installed on their farms.
Kevin Erb with the University of Wisconsin Extension tells Brownfield well-drained soil helps improve crop yields, but there are a lot of old drainage tile systems that might not be working well anymore, and finding them can be challenging.
A Thanks & Farewell from Outgoing LICA President Tony Cain
Serving as president has been an honor. I have learned a lot these past few years about leadership and have met many good people. I could not have done it without good, active members, associates and staff – and my beautiful wife Michelle. Thanks to everyone for helping me grow into a better person.
Rare Chicago Dust Storm Reignites Debates Over the Role of Agriculture, Experts Say
A tall, imposing plume of agricultural sediment blew from central Illinois and over dry farmland to envelop Chicago, dropping visibility to near zero last week during a type of dust storm mostly seen in arid climates in the Middle East, North Africa and the southwestern U.S. “It’s pretty rare to have dust storms in Illinois,” said Trent Ford, the Illinois state climatologist. “It’s not unprecedented, but it’s uncommon. And for a dust storm to affect Chicago is even more uncommon.”
ADMC Corner with Keegan Kult
Another check-in with Keegan Kult, Executive Director for ADMC, yielded some exciting updates for the drainage water management industry.
Rigging Safety For Trench & Shoring Operations
Rigging safety in trenching and shoring operations is essential to prevent incidents involving heavy equipment, loads, or structural collapse. Below are some key safety practices and guidelines to ensure safe rigging during trenching and shoring work.
Characterizing the Fine Scale Spatial Distribution of Soil P for Efficient P Management in an Illinois Tile Drained Field
Closed depressions in post-glacial landscapes can accumulate phosphorus (P) due to repeated flooding and become hotspots for P loss when underlain by subsurface (tile) drainage. Soil P mapping is routinely based on the interpolation of samples from a 1-ha grid, which may miss closed depressions and underestimate soil P levels leading to overfertilization and nutrient loss.
Control, Automated
Controlled drainage offers multiple benefits to farmers including the ability to control the flow of water and trap nutrients in their fields, yet adoption rates in North America continue to lag. A new pilot project being conducted by researchers at The Ohio State University is looking to change that.
Water Funding Comes Into Focus
The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee held a hearing April 30 for water and wastewater experts to report on the impacts of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) in addressing major infrastructure repairs and upgrades much needed by state and local agencies. The experts called repeatedly for Congress to fully appropriate funding at authorized levels for fiscal 2026.
Senate Looks at NRCS Cutbacks
At a Senate Agriculture Committee hearing on conservation programs this week, a panel of conservation leaders told senators that cutbacks in staffing as the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), would impact producer access to technical assistance necessary to ensure that farmers continue trying out practices that reduce soil erosion and prevent nutrient runoff.
Reconciliation Legislation Moves Along In House
House Republicans moved closer to completing action this week on a reconciliation plan to implement President Trump’s “one, big, beautiful” agenda bill. The final three committees completed action on their portion of the package to renew the 2017 tax cut legislation with some additional tax cuts and to cut roughly $1.5 trillion in spending over the next decade to pay for the tax provisions and reduce overall federal spending.
DOT Approves $607 Million Infrastructure Grants
The U.S. Department of Transportation recently approved 180 infrastructure grants worth $3.2 billion from more than 3,200 projects that were awarded by the previous administration without project agreements. USDOT announced that it has approved 329 grants so far this year.
Those approved grants include a wide range of modal administration programs, from airport improvement grants to rail, port, and highway infrastructure initiatives.
No Plans to Close Any FSA Offices, Ag Sec Rollins Says
Reuters’ Leah Douglas reported that “U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins at a Senate hearing on Tuesday defended downsizing the USDA and potential cuts to international food aid programs, but said the agency does not plan to close any of its 4,500 offices that serve farmers.”
Refer a Landowner, Earn Cash!
Illinois LICA has partnered with the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD), select Illinois SWCDs, and Ecosystems Exchange Service (ESE) in mutual support of a pilot project to demonstrate the ability to scale-up conservation drainage practices in the Illinois River Basin to improve water quality, enhance wildlife habitat, and realize crop production benefits that help to support viable and sustainable agriculture.