Advancing SHM Strategies in IL

 The Soil Health Partnership (SHP), of the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) and
Illinois Corn Grower’s Precision Conservation Management (PCM) are proposing a joint project
to partner with 60 new farmers through trial sites in Illinois focusing on areas of high agricultural
production and key environmental concern. The Soil Health Partnership is a farmer-led initiative
of the National Corn Growers Association.The SHP is an innovative example of collaboration
between diverse organizations focused on increased adoption of conservation practices by
farmers through on-farm trials coupled with data and communications. Precision Conservation
Management (PCM) is a farmer-led effort developed to address natural resource concerns on a
field-by-field basis by identifying conservation practices that effectively address environmental
issues in a financially viable way. SHP and PCM will build on their existing partnership and shared sites to coordinate the implementation and adaptive management of a combined program, guiding at least 60 EQIP eligible producers through the intensive management changes that come with the transition to a SHMS. SHP and PCM staff will work one-on-one with farmers to develop individualized plans for their farm operations and to provide continuing technical advice over the course of the grant. The data collected will ensure full evaluation of the benefits, costs, and risks associated with SHMS practices.