Ducks Unlimited Part 2

In the latest IL Corn TV episode, Ducks Unlimited’s (DU) Fletcher Morgan and Jena Herrick share how farmer involvement is growing — and transforming — DU’s work across the Big Rivers Initiative. Today, 25–30% of DU’s event supporters in central Illinois have ties to agriculture, a major shift from a decade ago. That support fuels on-the-ground progress, from wetland restoration to grazing programs, cover crop delivery, and easement projects across Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, and Kentucky.

Jenna explains that the Big Rivers team functions like a full-service shop: biologists, agronomists, technicians, and engineers who design and deliver conservation projects tailored to each farm and landscape. Wetlands, she notes, provide far-reaching benefits — flood control, cleaner water, carbon storage, healthier soils, and habitat for countless species beyond waterfowl.

For farmers interested in learning more or exploring a project idea, DU encourages them to visit ducks.org/illinois to connect with their conservation team. As Jenna says, no two projects are alike but every one starts with a conversation and a look at the land.