Local ag organizations, agencies team up to improve water quality
The Kane County Farm Bureau, together with Forest Preserve District of Kane County, Kane County Water Resources Division, Kane-DuPage Soil and Water Conservation District and the USDA-NRCS, will hold a field day Wednesday, Sept. 12, to showcase new and ongoing water quality efforts in Kane County and across the state.
"We're excited to be able to work with so many great partners to highlight farmers' efforts in maintaining and improving water quality," said Steve Arnold, manager, Kane County Farm Bureau. "The field day will primarily focus on installation and inner workings of a woodchip bioreactor, as well as best management practices farmers can employ to help reduce nutrient losses."
The field day, which will be held at the Meissner Prairie-Corron Forest Preserve on Silver Glen Road, in Campton Township, is set to begin at 10 a.m. and will conclude with a free lunch. "We've packed a lot of great information into a short time frame," Arnold said. "Attendees will hear from experts in water quality improvements, best management practices and engineering, design and construction of practices with agronomic and water quality benefits. They'll also get to see woodchip bioreactor construction firsthand."
Woodchip bioreactor installations across the state, and other water quality projects, stem from the Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy (NLRS) which was released in July 2015. The NLRS tasks wastewater treatment plants, urban areas and agricultural areas with reducing the state's phosphorous load by 25 percent and its nitrate-nitrogen load by 15 percent by 2025; the eventual target is a 45 percent reduction in the loss of these nutrients to the Mississippi River.
The Kane County project was made possible by a grant from the Illinois Farm Bureau. The grants, totaling more than $300,000 in the past three years, are made available to county Farm Bureau across the state and are to be used specifically for education and nutrient loss reduction projects.
"Farmers have a lot of tools at their disposal when it comes to nutrient loss reduction tactics," Arnold said. "Not every tool will work for every farmer, but every farmer can find at least one tool. Woodchip bioreactors are just one of those tools and, what's even better, they're very promising. Studies show they can reduce nitrogen loss by 25 percent for tile drainage."
A number of participating contractors also are helping to make the field day possible, including Huddleston-McBride Land Drainage Company, Countryside Professional Land Drainage Services and Campton Construction.
The event is free to attend, but registration is required by Friday, Sept. 7. For questions, or to register, contact Steve Arnold at steve@kanecfb.com or (630) 584-8660.