Events such as the the recent Indian Creek Watershed Project Field Tour are giving agricultural producers a chance to show their commitment to conservation practices in the field. “We see this great opportunity for a volunteer collaboration between environmental groups and the farm community,” said Richard Breckenridge, Agriculture and Rural Affairs Advisor for the Illinois EPA during an interview with Chuck. He said it’s been an evolving, successful relationship, and agricultural interests need to tell their story.

“A lot of times we have forgotten about how to talk about that message of conservation on the farm, and because of the water quality issues, we now see a number of opportunities to not only talk about it from the agricultural and environmental perspective, but we can also begin to look at what are the things we can do,” Breckenridge said. He added that best management practices, such as water sampling and modeling, slow-release nitrogen products, tile drainage, buffer strips, and biomass, help the ag community talk about how it is taking care of the water quality. Breckenridge concluded that these kind of practices happen every day. This tour is just highlighting how those efforts actually happen across the country.

Listen to Chuck’s interview with Richard here: Interview with Richard Breckenridge, Agriculture & Rural Affairs Advisor, Illinois EPA

2012 Indian Creek Watershed Project Field Tour Photo Album