Dr. Shalamar Armstrong with Purdue University leads this multi-institute research project that closely examines the impact that cereal rye cover crop has on nutrient loss.
Investment Insight_Aug2020_Cereal Rye before Corn
Small tile-treatment wetlands can offer a practical, long-term edge of field solution to the challenge of reducing nutrient losses from cropland tile drainage runoff.
Investment Insight_Aug2020_Wetlands
A woodchip bioreactors is just one edge-of-field nitrogen management tools that farmers can use to reduce the amount of runoff of lost nutrients.
The Illinois Nutrient Research & Education Council recently awarded $4,037,640 in research grants for the 2021 Fiscal Year. Research focused on various practices and processes related to nutrient efficiency are the focus of the 34 newly funded projects.
Each year, Illinois farmers are assessed $.75/ton on bulk fertilizer sold in the state. Agricultural retailers work with Illinois NREC to collect the funds which are then invested in research and outreach activities. The Council was formed in 2012 and since that time has invested nearly $27M into this important research. The Council is funding 9 new projects and 25 projects that are ongoing and build on previous years of work. Proposals were submitted to the Council based on an RFP (Request for Proposal) that was developed by the Council and Research Committee. The Council and Research Committee then work with staff and outside peer reviewers to evaluate each project, review the objectives and methodology and then award the funding. NREC Research projects typically fall into four major categories: 4R’s – applying the right source of fertilizer, at the right rate, right time, and right place, Cover Crops, Edge of Field Practices, and Novel/Innovative approaches to nutrient utilization.
You can find a full listing of the 2021 funded projects here: 2021 Research Projects
July 21, 2020
David and Jim Isermann share research on their farm using struvite as an alternative to traditional phosphorus field applications. Partners from Farm Bureau, Isermann Farms, University of Illinois, Illinois NREC and Soil Health Partnership all play a role in studying the Isermanns’ LaSalle County plot. Scroll down for the videos at this link: http://www.ilfb.org/lasalle