News

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.

Your Return Is Filed! 3 Things to Keep in Mind Post-Filing

Most people feel some relief after filing their income tax returns each year. But even if you've successfully filed your 2024 return, you may still have questions. Here are three common ones.

Traveling With Your Spouse on Business? Know What's Deductible

If you own a company and travel for business, you may wonder whether you can deduct all the costs of having your spouse accompany you on trips. It’s possible, but the rules are restrictive.

Navigating the Orange Zone

You're pouring footers next to a live lane of traffic. Your crew’s navigating rebar, forms and truck deliveries. And somewhere behind it all, there’s a driver scrolling social media at 45 mph. This is why traffic control isn’t just a check-the-box item—it’s a matter of security for your people, your schedule and your bottom line.

Ransomware Is Crippling the Construction Industry

The construction industry finds itself in the crosshairs of ransomware attacks. What makes construction so alluring to cybercriminals? It’s not just the industry’s digital transformation — it’s the mechanics of project delivery.

LICA Participates in Family Business Coalition Supporting Continuation of Tax Relief

The Family Business Coalition (FBC) is a diverse collection of organizations and industry groups united for the common purpose of protecting America's family businesses across the country. The group meets monthly to connect top decision makers from Capitol Hill with family business coalition partners, family business owners, and state-based allies.

Administration Tells Agencies to Use Technology to Speed Project Reviews

The Trump administration has placed a major emphasis on overhauling the environmental review and permitting process that significantly slow down the delivery of a variety of infrastructure, energy and other projects. April 15 the President issued a memorandum directing federal agencies to integrate technology into their review workflows in order to accelerate the processing time for infrastructure projects.

Design & Construction of Phosphorus Removal Structures

This series of training modules, funded by the NRCS and produced in conjunction with ASA and ASABE, first seeks to thoroughly introduce, describe the practice, and explain where it is applicable. Next, training Module 2, separated into two sections, explains what information needs to be gathered from the field for conducting a site-specific design, along with various calculations for obtaining necessary inputs.

Mechanistic Study on the Role of Design & Management Factors in Regulating Nitrogen Treatment Performance in Constructed Wetlands

Surface flow constructed wetlands (SFCWs) are increasingly recognized as an effective solution for nitrogen in agricultural drainage, with their performance influenced by design and management. However, the mechanisms by which these factors regulate nitrogen removal remain unclear.

ADMC and USDA-NRCS Formalize Partnership to Advance Conservation Drainage Practices

The Agricultural Drainage Management Coalition (ADMC) and the United States Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS) have formally renewed their strategic relationship through a newly signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), solidifying a shared commitment to improving agronomic efficiency, water quality, and environmental performance across America’s drained agricultural landscapes.

Constructed Wetlands: A Solution for Water Quality in Bureau & Marshall Counties

Farmers in Bureau and Marshall Counties are turning to an innovative conservation practice that’s not only helping the environment — but also potentially boosting their bottom line. Constructed wetlands, designed to treat water from subsurface tile drainage, are gaining traction as a way to improve water quality, support wildlife, and make farmland more profitable.

Agricultural Tile Drainage in the US Corn Belt: Past, Present, and Future

Agricultural subsurface drainage systems, or tile drainage, consists of networks of perforated pipes installed beneath croplands to remove excess water. The primary benefits of drainage systems are twofold: (a) they protect soil and crop health; and, (b) they enable earlier planting (Pavelis 1987). By alleviating waterlogging and enhancing soil aeration, subsurface drainage systems promote stronger root growth and improve nutrient uptake (Castellano et al. 2019), leading to increased crop yields, increased nitrogen use efficiency, and reduced nitrous oxide emissions.

DWM Studies Confirm Large & Consistent N Loss Reduction

We synthesized results of drainage water management (controlled drainage) studies from all available studies that met criteria from 1979 to 2022, and determined the following average effects:

Spring & Summer Drainage Water Management for Grain Crops

As I write this article on the last day of March 2025, about 3 to 4 inches of precipitation is expected across the state of Ohio by April 7. The 30-year normal monthly precipitation for April is about 4 inches. This means, you may have received an entire month’s worth of rain in just one week! The National Weather Service (NWS) recently issued the 2025 U.S. Spring Outlook, covering precipitation, temperature, flooding, and droughts. You can find more details on the Climate Prediction Center website.

From Farm to Filtration: Conservation in Action

On April 3rd, Illinois farmers, agriculture professionals, water treatment experts, and the newly elected Mayor of Bloomington came together bright and early at Davis Lodge in Hudson, IL, for a day-long event entitled “From Farm to Filtration: A Tour of Conservation in Action.” The event was hosted by Illinois Sustainable Ag Partnership (ISAP), Illinois Nutrient Research and Education Council (NREC), and the McLean Soil and Water Conservation District.

ISAP's 2024 Annual Report

ISAP has published the 2024 Annual Report recapping the exciting achievements and strides made by the partnership over the past year!
ISAP’s 2024 highlight reel includes celebrating another Illinois Soil Health Week, selecting a new Soil Health Leadership Program cohort, launching the Financial INcentives Database Tool, convening Alphabet Soup Network at the Illinois State Fair, hosting the 2024 Risk Management Conference, welcoming new members, and more!