Peer Support and Hands-On Training Helps Bring Farmers Together for Soil and Water Health Submitted by The Nature Conservancy in Illinois CHICAGO - Illinois farmers looking to engage in soil-friendly, sustainable practices are finding success and long-term benefits through a program that connects them with like-minded farmers. "Farming while maintaining the health of the soil can be done, providing benefits to the grower and the larger environment," said Megan Baskerville, agriculture program director for The Nature Conservancy in Illinois. "We saw a gap in pragmatic resources to help farmers adopt soil health practices, and we're working to empower them with trustworthy information, while Baskerville of The Nature Conservancy developing a peer network for long-term support." Collin Rohl looks at the soil on Rohl Farmin Champaign County as Megan and Keith Rohl peer on. © Fauna Creative Between the production of crops and livestock, the Great Lakes region produces $14.5 billion in annual agricultural sales. But the use of these lands and waters has come at a cost. In many places, there have been a decrease in water quality, loss of essential fish and wildlife habitat, and an increase of toxic algae blooms. But the interest from farmers to adopt practices that support healthy lands and waters continues to grow, as well as the public's consciousness into how agriculture is supporting the environment. Farmers find help through the Advanced Soil Health Training with the Illinois Sustainable Ag Partnership (ISAP), said Baskerville, who is also ISAP's president. The program has supported 75 farmers and farm advisors since its inception in 2017 and includes six, two-day training sessions over 18 months that dive deeply into soil structure and sustainable farming practices, but perhaps even more importantly, help connect farmers from across the state. Central Illinois farmer Keith Rohl is a program graduate, and said the training has been essential to his lifelong goal of leaving the soil in which our food is grown better than he found it. "Now that I'm an old man, I finally feel like I'm doing something responsible for the soil," said Rohl, who's been working the land since age 6. "We're better stewards to the land, and that matters." Keith and Collin Rohl walk along their farm in Champaign County. They utilize cover crops in their field, which help reduce erosion. Fauna Creative Keith and Collin Rohl drive alonga buffer strip on their farm. These strips of vegetation form a buffer between farm fields and creeks, rivers and streams, and are strategically placed to filter out sediment and from surface water before it leaves the field. Fauna Creative Rohl and his son Collin now plant cover crops, which reduce erosion and provide soil organisms a food source when the cash crop isn't growing. This practice can limit nutrient runoff that often ends up in the Mississippi River watershed. "If you really want to make it work, you need to stick with it," Rohl said. "You're not going to see results in one year. We started using more cover crops and that is helping our soils tremendously, little by little." Warren County farmer Eric Hanson had a similar experience and desire for information before finding the soil health program. A former U.S. Army captain with an MBA and a fondness for listening to sustainability podcasts, Hanson was unable to find the resources he craved. Since the training, he feels he has a community to turn to help get the answers he needs. "It opened up my network - big time," Hanson said. Baskerville said the farming network through the soil-health training continues to grow as more farmers engage in learning opportunities and stay connected to share what they've learned and troubleshoot what works best for their fields. The program accepts applications from farmers and farm advisors in all Illinois counties including Lake, McHenry, Kane, DuPage and Cook. Details and information on future trainings can be found on ISAP's website, including new in-person training dates and application deadlines. To learn more about this TNC partnership available to farmers across the state, including the Advanced Soil Health training program, visit nature.org/IllinoisWater or the ISAP website at ilsustainableag.org. Peer Support and Hands - On Training Helps Bring Farmers Together for Soil and Water Health Submitted by The Nature Conservancy in Illinois CHICAGO - Illinois farmers looking to engage in soil - friendly , sustainable practices are finding success and long - term benefits through a program that connects them with like - minded farmers . " Farming while maintaining the health of the soil can be done , providing benefits to the grower and the larger environment , " said Megan Baskerville , agriculture program director for The Nature Conservancy in Illinois . " We saw a gap in pragmatic resources to help farmers adopt soil health practices , and we're working to empower them with trustworthy information , while Baskerville of The Nature Conservancy developing a peer network for long - term support . " Collin Rohl looks at the soil on Rohl Farmin Champaign County as Megan and Keith Rohl peer on . © Fauna Creative Between the production of crops and livestock , the Great Lakes region produces $ 14.5 billion in annual agricultural sales . But the use of these lands and waters has come at a cost . In many places , there have been a decrease in water quality , loss of essential fish and wildlife habitat , and an increase of toxic algae blooms . But the interest from farmers to adopt practices that support healthy lands and waters continues to grow , as well as the public's consciousness into how agriculture is supporting the environment . Farmers find help through the Advanced Soil Health Training with the Illinois Sustainable Ag Partnership ( ISAP ) , said Baskerville , who is also ISAP's president . The program has supported 75 farmers and farm advisors since its inception in 2017 and includes six , two - day training sessions over 18 months that dive deeply into soil structure and sustainable farming practices , but perhaps even more importantly , help connect farmers from across the state . Central Illinois farmer Keith Rohl is a program graduate , and said the training has been essential to his lifelong goal of leaving the soil in which our food is grown better than he found it . " Now that I'm an old man , I finally feel like I'm doing something responsible for the soil , " said Rohl , who's been working the land since age 6. " We're better stewards to the land , and that matters . " Keith and Collin Rohl walk along their farm in Champaign County . They utilize cover crops in their field , which help reduce erosion . Fauna Creative Keith and Collin Rohl drive alonga buffer strip on their farm . These strips of vegetation form a buffer between farm fields and creeks , rivers and streams , and are strategically placed to filter out sediment and from surface water before it leaves the field . Fauna Creative Rohl and his son Collin now plant cover crops , which reduce erosion and provide soil organisms a food source when the cash crop isn't growing . This practice can limit nutrient runoff that often ends up in the Mississippi River watershed . " If you really want to make it work , you need to stick with it , " Rohl said . " You're not going to see results in one year . We started using more cover crops and that is helping our soils tremendously , little by little . " Warren County farmer Eric Hanson had a similar experience and desire for information before finding the soil health program . A former U.S. Army captain with an MBA and a fondness for listening to sustainability podcasts , Hanson was unable to find the resources he craved . Since the training , he feels he has a community to turn to help get the answers he needs . " It opened up my network - big time , " Hanson said . Baskerville said the farming network through the soil - health training continues to grow as more farmers engage in learning opportunities and stay connected to share what they've learned and troubleshoot what works best for their fields . The program accepts applications from farmers and farm advisors in all Illinois counties including Lake , McHenry , Kane , DuPage and Cook . Details and information on future trainings can be found on ISAP's website , including new in - person training dates and application deadlines . To learn more about this TNC partnership available to farmers across the state , including the Advanced Soil Health training program , visit nature.org/IllinoisWater or the ISAP website at ilsustainableag.org .