In the fall after crop harvest, some farmers perform what is known as “recreational tillage.” Like the name indicates, this activity is largely a family tradition or just something to do. But soil experts are trying to shift farmers to reduced tillage or even no tillage. A less disturbed soil is a healthier soil. Illinois […]
Agriculture
“Troubled Waters” to be shown in Champaign-Urbana
One of the goals of Prairie Rivers Network is to improve the health of Illinois’ rural rivers by reducing farm chemical pollution. The documentary Troubled Waters does a nice job of describing the issue. Thanks to the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center for publicly screening this film on Tuesday, October 22! Troubled Waters: A Mississippi River Story […]
Illinois Land Conversions Result in More Crop Acres
The U.S. Department of Agriculture released new data that show a net national loss of non-cropland (e.g., prairie, forest) due to conversion to cropland. In a one year period from 2011-2012, Illinois netted a 10,000 acre gain in cropland. This means we are losing habitat for recreation, wildlife, stormwater management, and open space. The reasons […]
PBS to Air “Troubled Waters” Tonight
A big thank you to WILL-TV for broadcasting the documentary Troubled Waters: A Mississippi River Story. This one-hour program airs at 9pm on Monday, August 5. Troubled Waters tells the story of the unintended consequences of farming on the health of the Mississippi River. Fertilizers and pesticides leave farm fields during storms and make their way […]
2013 Gulf of Mexico Dead Zone the Size of Connecticut
Today, Prairie Rivers Network and other members of the Mississippi River Collaborative issued news releases about the size of the 2013 Gulf of Mexico Dead Zone. Please see our news release below and contact Stacy James (217-344-2371) if you have any questions. Connecticut-Sized 2013 Gulf “Dead Zone” Signifies the Need for Cleaner Water in Illinois CHAMPAIGN, IL […]
