BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — Scheduled to roll out in July, the agriculture industry-backed Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy (NLRS) provides to producers a framework for reducing nutrient losses, improving local water quality and the quality of water leaving the state and entering the Gulf of Mexico.

With the success of the Illinois NLRS hinging on producers’ adaptation of voluntary enhanced nutrient stewardship and conservation practices, the Illinois Council on Best Management Practices (CBMP) and county Farm Bureaus are teaming up to offer a series of public meetings focusing on best management strategies (BMPs) specific to various regions of the state.

"We’re doing a ‘road show’ across the state to talk about the new NLRS," said Jennifer Tirey, CBMP executive director. "We’ve identified 11 locations across the state to hold each meeting to talk about the Strategy and the best management practices that will work in particular regions of the state.

"We want to encourage as many producers as we can to come to these meetings."

Faced with raising more food while protecting natural resources, the NLRS offers a template for adopting voluntary, enhanced nutrient stewardship and conservation practices.

But it is not a "one-size-fits-all" resolution to the state’s nutrient loss issues, as Tirey and CBMP President Chris Hausman point out.

"Our state stretches more than 400 miles from north to south. Soil types and farming practices change depending on where you are," said Hausman, who also serves as District 12 director for the Illinois Farm Bureau (IFB). "(The meetings) will give farmers and other stakeholders the opportunity to discuss how the Strategy will impact them at their local level and will arm them with information about on-farm BMPs they can use.

"Farmers will also learn all that is being done to reduce nutrient losses and how to build on current successes."

The NLRS tour is scheduled to make stops in Carterville (June 2), Galesburg (June 8), Princeton (June 9), Shelbyville (June 12), Jacksonville (June 16), Princeville (June 17), Clinton (June 18), Decatur (June 22), Vandalia (June 23), Bloomington (June 24) and Pittsfield (June 29). A meal will be provided at each.

In addition, each meeting will offer background information on the NLRS, a summary of the science in each particular region or watershed, information on 2015 programming geared at implementing the NLRS, a "toolbox" of BMPs, informal presentations from local stakeholders – and one extra perk for attendees, according to Tirey. "We’re going to be offering on-site water sampling analysis and are encouraging farmers to bring in samples from their tile lines or their ponds," she said. "Farmers will immediately receive their results, which will not be shared with anyone else."

The Illinois NLRS has received the support of many CBMP member organizations, including the IFB, Illinois Corn Growers Assoc., Illinois Soybean Assoc., Illinois Fertilizer and Chemical Assoc. and others. The CBMP was formed in 1998 as a nonprofit dedicated to assisting and encouraging adaptation of BMPs that protect and enhance natural resources and the sustainability of agriculture in Illinois.

Those interested in the NLRS meetings, which are free to the public, are asked to RSVP to hosting county Farm Bureau offices. For a complete listing of locations, visit www.illinoiscbmp.org