Bushnell graduated from Iowa State University with a Bachelor of Science in Horticulture in 1981 and returned to the family farm in Stillman Valley, Illinois. His father Fred, a Rochelle native, had started a corn, soybean and beef cattle operation post-Iowa State in the early 1950’s. Ever a student of the soil, Fred began experimenting with no-till in the 1970's. Cade adopted no-till across all acres in 1991. Strip-till was first incorporated in 2004 in fields with large amounts of corn residue. Due to their decades-long efforts to improve soil conservation, the Bushnell Family’s Walnut Creek Farms was recognized in 2004 by the state of Illinois Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts as Conservation Farm Family of the Year.
Bushnell started experimenting with cover crops in 2006, settling on cereal rye as the most effective. Operating as Bushnell Farms since 2007, he and his son Ross plant cereal rye after corn and soybean acres have been harvested.
“Cade’s work to help other farmers learn from his own experience with no-till, strip-till, and cover crops is so important to the overall effort of profitable conservation practice adoption,” said Greg Goodwin, Director of PCM. “He channels Randy Stauffer in his pursuit of soil conservation and sharing expertise. I am honored to present Cade with this award.”
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About Precision Conservation Management
Precision Conservation Management (PCM) is the premier conservation program of the IL Corn Growers Association, initiated through funding by the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service – Regional Conservation Partnership Program. PCM integrates farm conservation practices and data analysis to help farmers understand how specific management changes can impact both their environmental impact and their bottom line. For further information regarding their work, visit their website www.precisionconservation.org.
