In August of 2024, Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) entered a partnership with the United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS) in an effort to increase awareness, education and outreach related to NRCS conservation programs and resources in Illinois. Through this partnership, ISA is helping connect farmers with information about conservation practices, including cover crops and no-till, while highlighting the technical resources and expertise available through USDA-NRCS.

ISA’s Role

ISA’s Soybean Production staff play a key role in fulfilling the partnership’s objectives while expanding awareness and participation in Illinois NRCS programs. Through workshops, field days and technical resources, ISA brings farmers and NRCS staff together to explore practical applications of soil health and conservation management.

The ISA-hosted events are designed to foster collaboration, encourage knowledge exchange and provide hands-on learning opportunities for both groups. To stay updated on upcoming events, visit www.ilsoy.org/events/.

In addition to coordinating educational events, ISA supports NRCS staff and conservation planners by providing technical agronomic expertise that strengthens conservation planning efforts.

To further advance conservation adoption, ISA collaborates with university researchers and farmers through its On-Farm Trial Network (OFTN) to generate practical, unbiased data on conservation practices. Findings from these trials, along with insights from subject matter experts, are shared through ISA publications, digital platforms and events. To learn more about OFTN, visit www.fieldadvisor.org/on-farm-trial-network/.

NRCS Programs

Illinois NRCS offers several financial assistance programs for farmers looking to implement new conservation practices or build on existing conservation efforts.

The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) helps farmers, ranchers and forest landowners address specific natural resource concerns on working lands. Through financial and technical assistance, EQIP supports conservation practices that improve soil health, water quality, air quality, wildlife habitat and other natural resources. EQIP is particularly well suited for first-time conservation adopters or producers looking to solve a specific resource challenge.

The Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) rewards agricultural producers who maintain and improve their existing conservation systems. Through CSP, participants adopt additional conservation activities that address priority resource concerns across their entire operation. CSP is ideal for farmers who already have conservation practices in place and want to expand or enhance them through a comprehensive, systems-based approach.

The Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) addresses natural resource challenges within a region or watershed by incentivizing conservation practice adoption on agricultural lands. By leveraging public and private resources and fostering collaboration among partners, RCPP delivers innovative, locally led solutions that benefit both agricultural producers and conservation goals.

To learn more about how you can “grow your ground game” with Illinois NRCS, visit www.ilsoy.org/conservation/.