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Illinois Land Improvement Contractors Association, Inc.
News
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.