You make your living from the land.  

 

You have been raised in the country, you’ve worked with Mother Nature all your life, and you understand that if you want the same sort of life for your children, you must preserve and conserve what is in your care.

 

Best management practices are the techniques and methods farmers use to take the best care of the soil, water, air, plants, and animals around them. IL Corn wants to partner with you to help you understand the best science, the best techniques, the best opportunities to care for your natural resources. 

We have programming that will help you test your water for nutrient levels, try out cover crops for the first time, and apply nitrogen in the most responsible way.  Our programming in this area continues to grow!  Please stay plugged in with us to keep learning and growing as a conservationist.

 

Making Nitrogen Decisions

In Illinois, researchers have been testing different amounts of nitrogen in corn fields for years. They collected the data from these tests and created an online tool. This tool considers the current prices of corn and nitrogen fertilizer to figure out the best amount of nitrogen to use for maximum profit per acre. It's called the "Maximum Return to Nitrogen" rate (MRTN). Farmers can use this tool to make sure they're getting the most economic benefit from their nitrogen program and feel sure about their decisions.

nitrogen calculator

Gain Access to Illinois' Premier Conservation Program

 

In 2016, IL Corn launched a farmer service program, Precision Conservation Management (PCM), in response to the Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy. Today PCM is funded still by IL Corn and other organizations.
 

PCM works with farmers to help them understand the costs & benefits of adopting new conservation practices. They provide one-on-one support to qualifying farmers to help them understand the costs & benefits of adopting new conservation practices.

They provide FREE access to the Farmer Portal to any farmer who wants to contribute their farm data, and access recommendations based on other farmer participant’s aggregated, anonymized data.

 

LEARN MORE ABOUT PCM PROGRAM

NEW COVER CROP GUIDE PUBLISHED BY PRECISION CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT

Rosalie Trump

March 7th, 2024  |  Today's News |  ICGA |  ICMB |  Conservation |  Precision Conservation Management

Precision Conservation Management (PCM), a program of IL Corn and the Illinois Soybean Association, released a new cover crop guidebook this month in Prairie Farmer Magazine. PCM has conducted...

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6 Farmers Share Cover Crop Tips

Tara Desmond

March 7th, 2024  |  Today's News |  ICGA |  ICMB |  Conservation

Six Illinois farmers come together to share their insights and experiences on a practice that's not just farming but stewardship of the land, navigating the delicate balance between tradition and...

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Illinois Ag Groups Support Expanded Fall Covers for Spring Savings Program

American Farmland Trust

February 15th, 2024  |  Today's News |  ICGA |  Conservation

(Springfield, IL) The IL Corn Growers Association, Illinois Soybean Association, Illinois Farm Bureau and American Farmland Trust are seeking expanded state investment into a popular program...

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Payments Available for 2023 Cover Crops Through Farmers for Soil Health

February 2nd, 2024  |  Today's News |  ICGA |  ICMB |  Conservation |  Precision Conservation Management

Bloomington, Illinois – Farmers in Illinois can receive incentive payments for cover crops planted in 2023 by enrolling in Farmers for Soil Health by February 28. Farmers for Soil Health is a...

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IL Corn Celebrates Farm Advocate Megan Dwyer's National Recognition in Young Leaders Competition

Tara Desmond

January 29th, 2024  |  Today's News |  ICGA |  ICMB |  Public Outreach |  Conservation

Megan Dwyer, a valuable member of the IL Corn team, has clinched 4th place nationally in the American Farm Bureau Young Farmers & Ranchers Excellence in Agriculture competition. Megan's...

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Corn to Capitol: Bunting Serves Second Year as State Rep.

Haley Bickelhaupt

January 23rd, 2024  |  Today's News |  ICGA |  Conservation |  Legislation & Regulation |  Farm Policy

An unconventional pathway to Springfield did not falter Jason Bunting’s steadfast support for agriculture as a freshman member of Illinois’s General Assembly. Former IL Corn Grower...

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Illinois FFA Chapters Water Testing Challenge Winners Announced

Tara Desmond

January 18th, 2024  |  Today's News |  ICMB |  Conservation

For the 2nd year IL Corn partnered with Illinois Soybean Association to offer the Water Testing Challenge to all Illinois FFA chapters.  This hands on educational program challenged students to...

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Illinois Leopold Conservation Award Seeks Nominees

Sand County Foundation

January 10th, 2024  |  Today's News |  ICMB |  Conservation |  Precision Conservation Management

Nominations and applications are now being accepted for the 2024 Illinois Leopold Conservation Award®.   The award honors farmers and forestland owners who go above and beyond in their...

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FEDERAL, STATE WATER QUALITY REPORTS HIGHLIGHT AGRICULTURE’S PROGRESS IN REDUCING NUTRIENT LOSS

December 8th, 2023  |  Today's News |  ICGA |  ICMB |  Conservation

Two new reports by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Hypoxia Task Force (HTF) and the Illinois’s Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy (NLRS) underscored Illinois farmers’ efforts to reduce...

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NLRS Biennial Report Important Evaluation to Drive New Support, Funding

December 1st, 2023  |  Today's News |  ICGA |  Conservation

After reading the results of the Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy Biennial Report, Marshall, IL farmer and IL Corn Growers Association Director Don Guinnip issued the following...

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IDOA “FALL COVERS FOR SPRING SAVINGS” CROP INCENTIVE PROGRAM RETURNS

Illinois Department of Ag

November 30th, 2023  |  Today's News |  ICGA |  ICMB |  Conservation

Applications Accepted Starting December 15 with New Opportunity for Pre-Enrollment   Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) is implementing its fifth year of the Fall Covers for Spring...

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IL Corn Celebrates Dr. Gary Schnitkey’s One Thousand Published FarmDoc Articles

Lindsay Mitchell

November 21st, 2023  |  Today's News |  ICGA |  ICMB |  Conservation |  Precision Conservation Management

Dr. Gary Schnitkey, University of Illinois Professor in Agricultural and Consumer Economics, authored his one-thousandth article on FarmDoc Daily last month, a website created by the University of...

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Stewart Receives Randy Stauffer Stewardship Award from PCM

Rosalie Trump

November 21st, 2023  |  Today's News |  ICGA |  ICMB |  Conservation |  Precision Conservation Management

Jean Stewart received the Randy Stauffer Stewardship Award from the IL Corn Growers Association (ICGA) at their annual meeting on November 21, recognizing his farm conservation work through the...

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Frey Family Farms Receives Illinois Leopold Conservation Award

Sandy County Foundation

August 31st, 2023  |  Today's News |  ICGA |  ICMB |  Conservation

Frey Family Farms of Dahlgren is the recipient of the inaugural Illinois Leopold Conservation Award®.   The prestigious award, given in honor of renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold, recognizes...

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AGRICULTURE TO EPA: GET THE SCIENCE RIGHT

Lindsay Mitchell

August 24th, 2023  |  Today's News |  ICGA |  Conservation

Independent Scientific Panel Takes Another Look At Atrazine Corn and sorghum farmers took time away from their farms to testify this week before an Environmental Protection Agency Scientific...

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Walmart Joins Precision Conservation Management Program

Tara Desmond

August 3rd, 2023  |  Today's News |  ICMB |  Conservation |  Precision Conservation Management

In March of this year, PepsiCo made a significant $216 million multi-year investment in strategic partnerships with farmer-facing organizations, including Practical Farmers of Iowa (PFI), Soil and...

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IL Corn Releases 2023 Cover Crop Coupon

Tara Desmond

July 18th, 2023  |  Today's News |  ICGA |  Conservation

IL Corn is committed to supporting sustainable agricultural practices in Illinois. In collaboration with seed suppliers, they have launched the annual coupon program to make it easier for farmers...

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Illinois Leopold Conservation Award Finalists Selected

Casey Langan

June 7th, 2023  |  Today's News |  ICMB |  Conservation

Three finalists have been selected for the inaugural Illinois Leopold Conservation Award®.         Given in honor of renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold, the prestigious award is presented in...

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New Kid Activity: Learn about Soil

Emily Bruch

June 6th, 2023  |  Today's News |  Conservation

What's in soil and why is it important for corn?   Check out this fun indoor activity you can do with your children or grandchildren to teach them about the importance of soil in growing...

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Precision Conservation Management Releases 2023 Data

June 5th, 2023  |  Today's News |  ICMB |  Conservation |  Precision Conservation Management

Precision Conservation Management (PCM), a program of IL Corn and the Illinois Soybean Association, released their annual “Business Case for Conservation” this month in the Prairie Farmer...

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