KIC 2025: Water Quality Program

Illinois Farm Bureau (IFB) is part of efforts to reduce nutrient loss and protect water quality, Keep It for the Crop by 2025. Dubbed KIC 2025, the program focuses on the "four Rs" of nutrient stewardship:

• Right source
• Right rate
• Right time
• Right place

"KIC 2025 has strong education and research components," said IFB Director Dale Hadden. The program was "developed by agriculture to help protect water quality, reduce nutrient losses, and enhance farm economics."

KIC 2025 is focusing on priority watersheds. They are Lake Bloomington, Lake Vermilion, Lake Decatur, Illinois Basin of the Vermilion River, Salt Fork Vermilion River, and Lake Mauvaissee Terra. These rivers and lakes have levels of nitrogen or phosphorous levels, which can be lowered.

Hadden noted KIC 2025 supports the idea that watersheds have different soil types, slopes, and other variables. "This (program) will help us avoid a one-size-fits-all approach," Hadden said.

"Farmers want to do the right thing. We need to find them the tools and the technology. This is a huge step forward," said Lisa Bonnett, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) interim director.

IFB President Phillip Nelson reinforced that Illinois farmers are major stakeholders in this effort. "We have always believed that farmers are among the original stewards of our soil and water. KIC by 2025 will provide the resources, knowledge and outreach needed to ensure that growers make the best possible decisions when it comes to implementing practices that protect our streams and rivers and further enhance nutrient efficiencies in ag productions."

Marcia Wilhite, chief of IEPA's bureau of water, applauded the state's farm community for stepping forward and crafting the nutrient program. "The plan is all theirs. I hope other states will look over their borders and say, 'Hey, what are they doing?'" Wilhite continued. "I think it's key that people already have a stewardship ethic and add nutrient stewardship to that focus."

The Illinois Council on Best Management Practices (ICBMP) will implement KIC 2025. ICBMP members include Illinois Farm Bureau, Illinois Corn Growers Association, Illinois Fertilizer and Chemical Association, Illinois Soybean Association, Illinois Pork Producers, and Syngenta Crop Protection.