Funding partnership expected to double ICGA’s Precision Conservation Management program

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Funding partnership expected to double ICGA’s Precision Conservation Management program

The Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) has partnered to help expand the Illinois Corn Growers Association’s (ICGA) Precision Conservation Management (PCM) program.

The program was initiated in 2015 using funds from the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service and combines precision technology and data management with farm business and financials to help farmers manage, adopt, and adapt conservation practices long-term.

During a virtual media event, ISA District Director and Shelbyville farmer Elliott Uphoff says they will be providing funds to help make it a bigger and better program.

“One of the problems when I first signed up (for the PCM program) is there weren’t enough field staff to meet with all of the farmers in a timely manner. Now we are going to be able to bring more farmers more field staff and more information.”

There are 330 farmers in 16 Illinois counties and 50 farmers in 10 Kentucky counties currently involved in the program, but Laura Gentry with ICGA says this partnership will trigger even more growth.

“We are looking at moving into 15 new counties as a result of this program. We are still working on exactly which counties that will be, but this partnership basically means a doubling of what we are able to achieve.”

ISA Communications Director Rachel Peabody says the two organizations share a lot of the same values and farmers so they are excited to help expand the PCM program.