Field Notes
Prairie Strips Winter Webinar Series
Prairie Strips Winter Webinar Series By: Craig Ficenec, Sand County Foundation Much of Illinois was once covered in a diverse prairie ecosystem: wildlife thrived and water flowed clean. Today, recreating a small fraction of that native vegetation could move us toward our water quality and habitat goals, while improving farm profitability. Sand County Foundation, Pheasants Forever, and Iowa State University...
Partner Spotlight: Illinois Soybean Association
The Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) is excited to announce the return of the Better Beans series, which will return to in-person formats. The Better Beans event series brings local soybean knowledge specific to farmers’ regions, offering up the chance to discuss the challenges, opportunities, and conditions affecting them directly. Participants will receive agronomy insights for their soil, planting tips for...
Introducing Helen VanBeck
Introducing Helen VanBeck Author: Helen VanBeck I grew up far away from the corn fields, in the urban-sprawled, concrete-covered city that is Houston, Texas. During the summers, when my brothers and I would visit our grandparents in Iowa, proudly wearing our Hawkeye gear, I remember being mesmerized by the rows of corn we’d pass on our way in and out of town each day. In...
SMART Wetlands
SMART Wetlands Author: Jean McGuire, Field Outreach Specialist | The Wetlands Inititative What happens when soil, clay, plants, and water are combined using human engineering? Could this combination create smart outcomes for the landscape? Usually, there are concerns when several thousand cubic yards of soil are moved on Illinois croplands. However, in this case, it was done by design to...