Union County meeting helps farmers learn how to protect water quality

Experts from the Illinois Farm Bureau met with farmers in Union County on Monday, July 11, to share information about protecting water quality.   

The Union County Farm Bureau served as host of the event as part of the Illinois Farm Bureau’s Stewardship Management Program. 

The meeting was held at the USDA building in Anna.

The meeting was part of a major education initiative to help farmers learn how they can operate to keep nutrients (fertilizer) from leaving farm fields and entering streams, lakes and rivers, where they might harm water quality. 

Those who attended the event learned that with proper farm management, nutrient losses can be reduced.  

Illinois farmers are joining cities, towns and others in working to improve the state’s water quality that can be impacted by wastewater treatment plants and from urban and farm runoff. 

The Illinois Farm Bureau is a member of the Illinois Council on Best Management Practices, CBMP.

The council is a coalition of agricultural organizations and agribusinesses which are helping to identify stewardship practices that work, are good for the environment and make economic sense for farmers. 

“Meetings with farmers in Union County and throughout the state are great opportunities to share the message that smart farming benefits everyone,” said Lauren Lurkins, the director of natural and environmental resources for the Illinois Farm Bureau, in a news release.  

“In addition to improving water quality, better management of nutrients has the added benefit of improving crop yields by keeping nutrients on the field for next year’s crop.  

“It’s important for farmers to continue to learn more about managing nutrients and then to put what they learn into practice.  Farmers throughout the state are updating how they operate and more are taking action every day.”

For more information about the coalition, visit http://www.IllinoisCBMP.org.