Soil Health Leadership Program Application

This unique training course will provide you with knowledge of the whole soil health system: physical, biological, and chemical characteristics of soil and the relationship to farm management. We are recruiting a diverse cadre of participants to enhance the learning experience. We will host six 2-day in-person workshops over the course of 18 months. Workshops will take place at locations around Illinois  to expose you to multiple cropping systems and soil types. The first workshop is slated for August 2024 in Peoria, Illinois; remaining dates and locations have been drafted and are subject to change. 

Space in ISAP’s Soil Health Leadership Program is limited. Applications will be reviewed to accept an interdisciplinary cohort (with equal representation of farmers, advisors, and conservation professionals) with the willingness & ability to share the information gained from the Program within Illinois agriculture. 

Applications are being accepted through May 31, 2024. Applicants will be notified by late June if they’ve been accepted.

Thank you for considering ISAP’s Soil Health Leadership Program!

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Email *
Name: *
Address: *
Company or Organizational Affiliation (if applicable):
Phone Number *
1. What is your role in the agricultural community of Illinois?  Please describe the geography you cover and estimate the number of farm owners/operators you work with, or the number of acres you influence/advise:
 *
2.  Are you currently providing any technical assistance related to soil health or cover crops? (i.e., assisting a grower with cover crop planting/termination decisions, etc.). If yes, please describe. *
3. To help us customize the best possible curriculum, please rank your comfort level with the following topics on a scale of 1-5. 
(1= no knowledge or experience, 3 = comfortable with the topic, but need to learn more, 5 = very knowledgeable/I could teach this!)  
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1
2
3
4
5
Understanding how soil biology affects chemical and physical soil properties.
Management of cover crops (selection, planting timing and options, termination)
Management of IPM in soil health systems (weeds, pests, diseases)
Successful no-till, strip-till, & cover crop equipment and management
Understanding options to improve nutrient efficiency
Short- and long-term economics of farming to improve soil health
Potential benefits for crop diversification
4.  Are there other topics you would like to see covered in this program? *
5.  Why does this program appeal to you?  What do you hope to gain? *
Participation in ISAP’s Soil Health Leadership Program is free! Funding is provided for lodging, however we cannot cover the cost of your time or your costs to get to the training.  The 6 workshops are progressive. The expectation is that you attend all 6 workshops, but we understand that unforeseen circumstances arise. In order to be an official graduate of the program, attendance is required for 5 out of the 6 sessions. The training will be given between August 2024 – December 2025 in the following structure.

All sessions will include both classroom portions and outdoor visits to farms and research sites. Be prepared for weather and field conditions. Topics discussed at each training are not limited to those mentioned below. There may be limited travel between locations within each session. General start time of each session will be 10:00 am on day 1, and end by 3:00 pm on day 2.

*Specific dates/locations subject to change, with all dates/locations confirmed 60 days prior to the session. 

Session 1

Date: August 20th and 21st, 2024

Location: Peoria, IL

Topics: Soil health principles and demonstrations

Cover crop species selection and seeding techniques

Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy (NLRS) and introduction to water qualities relationship to soil health

Session 2

Date: November 13-14, 2024 

Location: Monticello, IL 

Topics: Introduction to nutrient management and soil testing

Cover crop management, field observations and conservation tillage

NLRS and water quality (Part 2): Meeting the goals of the NLRS

Session 3

Date: Early March, 2025 

Location: Marion, IL

Topics: The economics of soil health (Part1): costs and rewards of adopting soil health systems

Risk management and soil health

Integrated pest management (IPM) (Part 1): IPM in soil health systems

Cover crop termination and spring management in soil health systems

Session 4

Date: Late June, 2025 

Location: Western, IL

Topics: Soil Biology (Part 1)

Increasing diversity through livestock and extended rotations

Nutrient management (Part 2), management in biological systems

Session 5

Date: August, 2025

Location: Northwestern IL (Jo Daviess County)

Topics: Soil biology (Part 2): Soil Biology in advanced soil health systems

Livestock and crop rotations (Part 2)

IPM (Part 2): Managing pest concerns in active biological systems

Carbon's role in the soil system

Session 6

Date: December, 2025 

Location TBD

Topics: Soil Health Economics (Part 2): Economics of advanced systems

Barriers to adoption and messaging for effectiveness

Soil health principles and demonstrations: tying it all together


Will you do your best to attend all 6 workshops?

 *
If invited to participate, we will ask all participants to provide a signed letter from their employer noting their understanding and approval of participation in ISAP’s Soil Health Leadership Program.

Will you be able to secure approval from your employer to participate?  
 *

After the program concludes, successful graduates will be ISAP Soil Health Ambassadors, with the expectation to share the knowledge you gained with your clients or in your community. 

ISAP is able to support you in sharing the knowledge you gained by helping you offer a soil health/cover crop outreach event. For example, an event could be hosted by your company to highlight soil health systems, or an event could be hosted in partnership with your local SWCD/Farm Bureau chapter.

Are you willing to participate in and/or lead at least one outreach event in your local area? 

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Do you expect to request ISAP assistance in planning or implementing this outreach event?
*

ISAP’s Conservation Story Map features farmers, service providers, conservation specialists, research, and demonstration sites across the state of Illinois that are successfully adopting, exploring, or promoting conservation cropping systems and/or conservation drainage management. 

ISAP’s goal is to create a network of conservation ag leaders in Illinois who can be a resource of knowledge, advice, or services for farmers who are interested in adopting new conservation practices on their farms. ISAP invites you to be listed on the Story map as a Soil Health Ambassador if you would be willing to share your experience with others who are looking to learn.

Are you willing to be listed on ISAP’s Conservation Story Map? 

 *
(OPTIONAL) Please provide the name and contact information for one professional reference.
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