Illinois Water Quality And Agriculture: Taking A Proactive Approach
When you consider the question of water stewardship for agriculture, it’s incredibly impressive that the state of Illinois — with perhaps the largest concentration of growers in the entire U.S. — has been largely missing from the national debate on this topic. Whereas neighboring states such as Iowa are engaged in legal battles regarding water use or Ohio, where restrictions on agricultural practices are being proposed due to algae blooms in the state’s watershed some critics have linked back to farming, the water issue in Illinois has generated much fewer headlines across the national media landscape. In part, Jean Payne, President of the Illinois Fertilizer & Chemical Association (IFCA), credits Illinois’ more forward-thinking agenda when it comes to water and agriculture compared with other neighboring states for this fact.
“We’re a major ag production state with lots of rivers and streams, so we knew we had to be proactive,” said
Payne in a 2015 interview with CropLife® magazine. “We really have a great communication between the water supply people, Illinois EPA, and ag groups. We consistently share what we see out there. The goal is to not have any unpleasant surprises for anyone, to just be transparent and open about the challenges.”