The Illinois Nutrient Research & Education Council is currently meeting to review nutrient research and outreach programs for 2014 that seek to minimize environmental impact, optimize harvest yield and maximize nutrient utilization.  IFCA is well represented on NREC, and the 75 cent per ton NREC assessment is critical in supporting our industry's efforts to prove we can reduce nutrient losses in the agricultural sector without burdensome regulations on our industry or on our farmer customers. 

 

NREC funds the Keep it for the Crop program; KIC engages retailers directly in helping customers manage their nitrogen as a system to improve yields and reduce losses, as well as help farmers determine a reliable and defensible nitrogen rate on their farms.  All of these efforts are critical as Illinois EPA undertakes the task or preparing the Illinois Nutrient Reduction Strategy, which  must be submitted to USEPA in early 2014.  With KIC, NREC and new research/outreach efforts, Illinois agriculture is well positioned to be the problem solvers when it comes to increasing production and reducing nutrient losses.  It's always better to be a problem solver than perceived only as a "problem."  IFCA plays a key leadership role with KIC and NREC, and IFCA is also very engaged as part of a large stakeholder group that is helping to develop the Illinois nutrient reduction strategy.  We thank our members for their support of NREC, making it possible to be proactive instead of reactive.  An update on KIC and NREC activities will also be featured on January 20 at the IFCA convention, don't miss it!