View from the Cab: ISAP conference coming

By Kent Casson

Mark your calendar because registration is now open for the Illinois Sustainable Ag Partnership’s (ISAP) third biennial Risk Management Conference taking place on Zoom on August 1, 8 and 15.

Join ISAP for a three-part webinar series tackling some emerging and future threats to farm resiliency and how conservation practices can help mitigate those risks. Each fast-paced, 1.5-hour webinar will consist of two-three presentations by topic experts, followed by a 30-minute panel discussion.

Session 1: Pest Management & Herbicide Resistance - August 1. With increasing pest resistance and regulatory barriers for new chemical options, the role of conservation practices in integrated pest management (IPM) is becoming more important every season. This session will focus on what farmers need to know to prepare for the future of pest control, featuring presentations by Purdue weed scientist Dr. Bryan Young, entomologist Dr. Jonathon Lundgren and Illinois farmer Carl Zimmerman, who uses an IPM strategy on his farm.

Session 2: Unpredictable Weather Risks on the Farm - August 8. This session will highlight how conservation practices can play a pivotal role in increasing resilience to floods, droughts, and other unpredictable weather events. Illinois State Climatologist, Trent Ford, will present on recent and predicted weather patterns and will be followed by Dallas Glazik, Farm Bill Biologist with Pheasants Forever and central Illinois farmer, who will explain how conservation practices can be used to mitigate impacts of inclement weather.

Session 3: Sustainability Metrics in the Supply Chain - August 15. Up-stream markets and the demands of end-users is an ever-evolving landscape, with significant fluctuations in recent years. In under a decade, farmers have been inundated with new sustainability sourcing goals, numerous incentive programs, and increased demands for traceability and transparency. This session will include presentations by a representative from Pepsi and ADM, focusing on changes they expect to see in their supply chain in the next 5-10 years. For more information and to register, please visit: www.ilsustainableag.org/risk-management-conference/

The Illinois Sustainable Ag Partnership (ISAP) brings together diverse member organizations who work collaboratively to encourage the adoption of sustainable and profitable production practices that improve soil health and restore local waters.