If the goals of nitrogen and phosphorus reduction outlined in the Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy (NLRS) aren’t met, more regulations can be expected for Midwest farmers.

The initial concept of PCM was born in 2013 when there was growing concern over the nutrient load in the Gulf of Mexico, which was drawing negative attention to agricultural practices along the Mississippi, Illinois, and Ohio Rivers. With the establishment of the Illinois NLRS in 2015, IL Corn launched Precision Conservation Management to assess the effectiveness of in-field conservation practices and their impact on farmer profitability. The overall objective of the NLRS is to improve water quality, not only in Illinois, but downstream, to reduce the hypoxic zone in the Gulf of Mexico.

A recent interview on NPR discusses some of the challenges and opportunities for farmers, and the role PCM can play at keeping farmers profitable and avoid future regulation for farmers: