Media

For media inquires about nutrient pollution in Illinois, contact the Illinois Extension Nutrient Loss Reduction team at NLRS@illinois.edu.

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Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Podcast

Discover Illinois's commitment to preserving waterways in our monthly podcast. Explore stories from the field about farm conservation practices, wastewater system management, urban stormwater, and policies and programs that affect nutrient loss, research updates, and more. Tune in for updates on ongoing efforts to protect Illinois waterways. Our podcast is your go-to source for staying informed about nutrient loss reduction efforts in Illinois.
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Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Blog

At Illinois Extension, we're helping enhance water quality at home and downstream. Our watershed outreach staff share stories on agriculture conservation, research updates, and field insights. The Nutrient Loss Reduction blog features practices aligned with the Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy, timely updates, farm safety, and new tools for farmers to reduce field nutrient runoff.
Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy Webinar Slide

Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Webinars

Discover a wealth of tips and tricks from the Illinois Extension Nutrient Loss Reduction team. Uncover knowledge through our engaging webinars and bite-sized videos designed to bring the best management practices to you. Whether you're eager to transform your home or business with rain gardens and barrels, to implement conservation practices on your farm, or take the lead in crafting watershed-based plans in your community, we have the information you need.
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News
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Root for your favorite native plant in Rain Garden Rumble playoff
URBANA, Ill. — It’s plant versus plant in the return of the Rain Garden Rumble that pits native flowers against each other in a friendly competition to take home the 2024 title. This March, get to know 28 plants native to Illinois by building a bracket and voting for your favorites in the annual...
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Illinois continues work to improve waterways by reducing nutrient pollution
URBANA, Ill. — The loss of nutrients into Illinois’ lakes, streams, and rivers harms water quality here and downstream all the way to the Gulf of Mexico. The Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy, NLRS, was established in 2015 and is designed to reduce nutrient pollution in Illinois’...
Crowd watching a drone seeding a field.
Digital agriculture, cutting-edge technology: Transforming farming practices
GALVA, Ill. — On a crisp fall day, a gathering of 47 dedicated producers and conservation professionals convened at Brian Corkill's farm just outside of Galva for an enlightening session on the future of agriculture. Dennis Bowman, a digital agriculture specialist from the University of Illinois...
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Extension grows agriculture connections at Farm Progress Show
DECATUR, Ill. — Agriculture is not just a job; it’s a way of life for so many, and it’s part of University of Illinois Extension’s mission to help. The 2023 Farm Progress Show, hosted Aug. 28-30 in Decatur, Ill., attracted...
graphs showing nutrient load changes in Illinois
Study forecasts tile drainage and crop rotation changes for nitrogen loss
URBANA, Ill. – Midwestern agriculture contributes the vast majority of nitrogen in the Gulf of Mexico, causing an oxygen-starved hypoxic zone and challenging coastal economies. State and federal policies have tried for decades to provide solutions and incentives, but the hypoxic zone keeps...
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All in the planning: State policies working to fix Gulf nutrient pollution
URBANA, Ill. – Tackling nutrient pollution in the Gulf of Mexico is a big job, requiring coordination between dozens of states whose waters flow into the Mississippi. Although a 2011 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency memo set a framework for each state to reduce its nutrient load, it was up...
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Slow stormwater, prevent floods with rain friendly landscaping
URBANA, Ill. – Life does not exist without water. Gardens don’t grow without water. But what happens when there is too much of a good thing? Or when that good thing is mismanaged and becomes a misfortune. Or when there are prolonged periods of drought? “The tale of stormwater is more...