Illinois Farmer Uses Bioreactors to Boost Conservation Efforts

By Andi Anderson

Conservation is a priority for Illinois farmer Brian Corkill, who grows corn and soybeans on 1,000 acres near Galva, Illinois.

His family embraced no-till farming in the early 1980s, and Brian is now taking conservation efforts further by installing woodchip bioreactors to reduce nitrate loss from tile-drained fields.

In 2020, Brian partnered with organizations like the Illinois Farm Bureau, NRCS, and University of Illinois to install his first woodchip bioreactor.

This system filters nitrates from tile-drained water, cutting nitrate levels by 25%, as per the Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy. Researchers collected monthly water samples to measure its effectiveness.

Encouraged by the results, Brian installed a second bioreactor in 2024 with support from the Illinois Sustainable Ag Partnership and University of Illinois Extension. He believes in the long-term environmental benefits of such practices, stating, “It’s about making an impact on the environment and leaving things better than when I got here.”

Financial support made these conservation efforts possible. Brian’s first bioreactor was funded through the NRCS Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), while the second was backed by One Good Idea and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Fishers & Farmers Partnership Program. He encourages farmers to explore financial aid through the ISAP’s FIND Tool, which helps them find incentives for conservation efforts.

Brian emphasizes the importance of protecting Illinois waterways and urges farmers to take action. “Any practices we can do to help, I think that’s what we need to do. We need to do our part.”

Photo Credit: gettyimages-shotbydave