Illinois program enhances farm incomes and environmental practices

By Andi Anderson

A new farming program in Illinois, Precision Conservation Management (PCM), aims to enhance farm incomes while improving environmental outcomes.

Recently, PCM released a summary of nine years of in-field data from Illinois farms. Farmers enrolled in PCM receive annual data analysis for their farms, access to conservation experts, and guidance on cost-share programs available to farmers.

The program's data analysis helps identify conservation practices that address environmental issues without negatively impacting farmers’ bottom lines.

“It definitely sheds light on what a person is doing and if someone else is doing it, the data set can give you a glimpse into a different practice that maybe you aren’t doing that you want to do,” said Zach Wells, a farmer in Champaign County.

According to PCM data, the most frequently observed tillage systems on the most profitable acres were one-pass light tillage for corn and no-till for soybeans.

In a 2024 survey, PCM found that 64 percent of farmers who do not already use reduced tillage practices are likely to reduce or eliminate tillage due to the information they received from PCM.

Reducing tillage has a significant impact on soil erosion and water quality. PCM began as a response to the Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy in 2015, which aims to improve water quality by reducing nitrogen and phosphorus levels in lakes, streams, and rivers.

“Between now and 2025, we all have to do something different on each acre to achieve the goals of the Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy,” said Dirk Rice, a Champaign County farmer. “We can’t do what we’ve always done and avoid negative publicity or difficult regulations like we see in surrounding states.”

The program's success has attracted interest from farmers in Kentucky and Nebraska, who are also participating in PCM.

Illinois' PCM program is making strides in improving farm incomes and environmental practices by providing valuable data analysis, expert guidance, and promoting effective conservation methods.

This initiative benefits the state's agricultural sector and supports broader environmental goals.

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