View from the Cab: Calling all farmers

By Kent Casson

Calling all Illinois farmers – you are needed to help with research on conservation practices.

A University of Illinois research team led by Professor Kaiyu Guan is doing a project funded by the Illinois Soybean Association Checkoff program. The study aims to quantify benefits of adopting conservation management practices and they are seeking 20 farmers to participate.

All that is needed is your field location, preferably field boundaries, and up to three years of practice data. In return, you will receive estimates of historical carbon emissions and detailed analysis of potential environmental benefits from key climate-smart practices such as cover crops, reduced or no-till farming and optimized fertilizer use.

The information will help growers make informed decisions about which conservation practices might be most beneficial for their fields. Don’t miss this opportunity to contribute to important research and grain insights into enhancing your own farm.

This project will evaluate current and past trial data and implement additional trials across the state to help quantify benefits of adopting conservation management practices for Illinois soybean farmers are equipped to take advantage of developing ecosystem marketplaces.

Project output includes reports farmers can use to inform their management decisions and improve outcomes specific to soybean productivity, greenhouse gas emissions, soil carbon sequestration and water quality.

All you have to do to join the study is visit: https://forms.monday.com/forms/7337c277449cb601f510ba6914ad2be3?r=use1  and provide your name and contact information. Data will remain confidential and secure.

Hard to believe it is back to school time! You know when the Fairbury Fair and Illinois State Fair are done, the old routine is back and we await another fall harvest which is not too far off.

We had a great summer fair season with some unbelievable weather here in Central Illinois ever since last month’s Livingston County Fair, really. Let’s hope the weather has been good enough to give us strong corn and soybean yields at harvest. Typically, cool August nights do wonders for the crops.