Illinois Farmers Race Against Climate Change to Save Soil

By Andi Anderson

In Illinois, young, conservation-minded farmers are racing against climate change to save their soil. Drought, dust storms, and sediment piles the size of skyscrapers are wreaking havoc on central Illinois farms. These farmers are experimenting with new techniques, such as cover cropping and reduced tillage, to protect their soil and improve their yields.

Challenges Facing Illinois Farmers:

Illinois farmers are facing a number of challenges, including drought, dust storms, and sediment runoff. These challenges are exacerbated by climate change, which is making weather patterns more extreme and unpredictable.

Solutions for Illinois Farmers:

There are a number of solutions that Illinois farmers can implement to protect their soil and improve their yields. These solutions include cover cropping, reduced tillage, and planting pollinator gardens.

The Future of Illinois Farming:

The future of Illinois farming is uncertain, but the farmers who are willing to adapt to climate change and implement new conservation techniques are the ones who will be most successful.

• The average age of farmers in Illinois is 58.
• Cover crop usage in the Midwest has tripled in the last decade, but is still miniscule at seven percent.
• A 2019 study by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency showed that fertilizer runoff was still rising steadily four years after the state set a goal to reduce it.

Illinois farmers are facing a number of challenges, but there are a number of solutions that they can implement to protect their soil and improve their yields. The future of Illinois farming is uncertain, but the farmers who are willing to adapt to climate change and implement new conservation techniques are the ones who will be most successful.

Photo Credit: gettyimages-casarsaguru