Nutrient Stewardship Grant Program

Environment Grants map

Since 2015, Illinois Farm Bureau (IFB) has contributed to an impressive statewide effort, the Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy (NLRS). Through leadership and participation from our farmer members across the state, IFB has been able to make meaningful contributions toward water quality efforts in Illinois. 

For the past several years, IFB has made it an organizational priority to lead on environmental issues, most notably, the NLRS. IFB’s NLRS efforts focus in four priority areas: 1) education and outreach to farmers, landowners and the general public; 2) supporting research of best management practices to reduce nutrient loss from agricultural fields; 3) supporting farmer implementation efforts across the state; and 4) demonstrating progress toward the long-term goals of the NLRS.

With the first year of work being completed in 2016, the Nutrient Stewardship Grant Program has become a cornerstone of IFB’s work to implement the NLRS, serving as one example of the many ways IFB is creating lasting impacts in implementing the NLRS across Illinois. This program funds County Farm Bureau (CFB) projects focused on improving soil health and water quality throughout the state. Since 2015, IFB has dedicated over $1,165,000 to CFBs to complete a wide range of unique projects, including planting test plots of cover crops, watershed planning, water testing, hosting education and outreach activities.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions in 2020 and 2021, virtual programs were developed to accommodate for canceled or capped-attendance field days. A library of virtual field day content can be found via the links at the top or left-hand side of the page.

All 2024 Nutrient Stewardship Field Days are being offered in-person. Mark your calendar and RSVP using the instructions below for the field day you are interested in.

 

2024 Nutrient Stewardship Field Days

 

Field Days

Date

Location

RSVP Deadline

Greene & Calhoun CFB Field Day March 14, 2024 Greene County Extension, Carrollton, IL Read the FarmWeekNow Recap
Montgomery CFB Field Day March 20, 2024 Montgomery County Farm Bureau, Hillsboro, IL Read the FarmWeekNow Recap
Will CFB Nutrient Stewardship Education Meeting March 27, 2024 Will County Fair Atrium, Peotone Read the FarmWeekNow Recap
Washington CFB Field Day April 4, 2024  Greenview Golf Course, Centralia Read the FarmWeekNow Recap
Clinton CFB Spring Field Day April 20, 2024 Aviston  
Clinton CFB Summer Field Day July 27, 2024 Sugar Creek Valley Farms, 12555 Poettker Road, Aviston, IL 62216 Read the FarmWeekNow Recap
Will Summer CFB Nutrient Stewardship Education Meeting July 31, 2024 25545 S. Cedar Road, Manhattan, IL 60442 Read the FarmWeekNow Recap
Jo Daviess CFB Field Day August 2, 2024 First driveway south of 4629 IL-78 S., Stockton, IL Read the FarmWeekNow Recap
Piatt, Macon CFB Field Day August 20, 2024 1150 W Pershing Rd, Decatur, IL 62526  
Wayne CFB Field Day August 22, 2024 Fred Blessing Farm, 3 Miles North of Fairfield on Enterprise Road and left at the NLID sign (County Road 1220N)  
Cook CFB Field Day August 28, 2024 Smits Farms, 3437 Sauk Trail, Chicago Heights, IL 60411 Read the FarmWeekNow Recap
LaSalle CFB Field Day August 29, 2024  Oak Ridge Golf Club, La Salle, IL Read the FarmWeekNow Recap
Knox CFB Field Day September 6, 2024 Meet at Knox Agri Center: 180 S Soangetaha Rd, Galesburg, IL 61401  
Madison CFB Nutrient Stewardship Meeting TBD    
Whiteside CFB Nutrient Stewardship Meeting  TBD  McCormick Event Center, Rock Falls   

 

Additional field day details coming soon!


Questions

Raelynn Parmely
IFB Environmental Program Manager
Email: rparmely@ilfb.org

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