“PCM began working for Illinois farmers in 2016 when IL Corn was awarded a Regional Conservation Partnership Program grant. Since that time, we have built a program that first and foremost serves farmers and helps them understand the financial impacts of their conservation management decisions. Because our program offers a unique viewpoint to encourage farmer adoption of conservation practices, these outstanding partners have joined us, giving PCM the opportunity to serve farmers in bigger and better ways and to connect farmers and their practices to the food chain and the end consumer,” said Travis Deppe, PCM Director.
Representing an impactful collaboration that spans four of Field to Market’s membership sectors, the PCM project enrolled in Field to Market’s Continuous Improvement Accelerator highlights the power of diverse stakeholders to unite behind supporting farmers in driving powerful environmental and economic outcomes. Bolstered by a trusted network of one-on-one advisers and the powerful sustainability engine of the Fieldprint Platform, PCM provides more than 300 farmers across 325,000 acres with financial and technical assistance that incentivizes uptake and mitigates the risk of implementing conservation practices.
“The farmers we work with are really the most important partners in this entire project. They share their farms and their data with us in exchange for the opportunity to uncover how they can be better – financially and environmentally. The data highlights areas where conservation practices and economically sound practices meet and shows farmers how sustainability and profitability are not mutually exclusive,” Deppe said.
PCM is fortunate to have over 30 contributing partners in this impactful work including: Natural Resource Conservation Service, Soil and Water Conservation Districts, Heartland Science & Technology, Farm Business Farm Management, Illinois Sustainable Ag Partnership, American Farmland Trust, Walton Family Foundation, and many more.
