BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — Megan Dwyer, director of conservation and nutrient stewardship for the Illinois Corn Growers Association, testified on the need for vital conservation programs and the positive effects that conservation practices have on the environment, soil, and future of farming for the Senate Agriculture Committee. Her May 13 testimony advocated on behalf of farmers for science-based, farmer-friendly policies including smarter conservation funding through flexible, regionally tailored programs. 

“Conserving our most productive agricultural acres is essential if we want to stay competitive in global markets and continue feeding and fueling a growing population,” she said. “These lands deliver more output with fewer inputs and are better positioned to adapt to economic pressures, policy shifts, and weather extremes. Without deliberate efforts to protect and manage these critical resources, farm families will face increased land prices, reduced margins, and greater pressure to overwork marginal land.” 

In her testimony, Dwyer pointed out inconsistencies in how federal crop program contract disbursement is handled. From 2018 to 2022, she said, Illinois received just 1.31 percent of total EQIP (Environmental Quality Incentives Program) funding. In comparison, Georgia received nearly three times that investment for one-fifth of the cropland.

“In 2024, only $6.4 million of the $21.5 million in EQIP funds Illinois received supported cropland conservation. Of that, less than $600,000 reached beginning farmers. Thanks to strong collaboration with Senator Durbin’s office, the Illinois Corn Growers Association and the Illinois Department of Agriculture were able to secure an additional $15 million of traditional EQIP funds to address conservation priorities,” Dwyer explained.

“This more than doubled the state’s cropland EQIP budget, enabling targeted efforts to reduce nutrient loss and preserve topsoil. While those funds were contracted, it provides an example of the competition farmers face when trying to sign up for federal conservation programs and the role partnerships play in securing funding.” 

One way to help ensure Illinois and other states have adequate conservation program funding would be to incorporate Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) conservation funds into the Farm Bill baseline, Dwyer told the Senate Ag Committee members. “Advocating for IRA funds to be incorporated into the conservation funding baseline in the upcoming Farm Bill is essential,” she advised. “This would enhance technical assistance, strengthen partnerships, and most importantly, deliver direct support to farmers — empowering them to make lasting, on-the-ground improvements.”

She also advocated for more trusted, local technical assistance personnel to assist farmers in USDA-funded and staffed offices. “Today’s farmers operate state-of-the-art equipment from their tractor cabs, but personal relationships still matter. They don’t want to talk to an AI-generated voice and they don’t want self-service from a computer,” said Dwyer. 

“Farmers want a knowledgeable, trusted expert who understands local resource concerns and can dedicate time to their individual needs. To make this a reality, we need well-staffed local offices — places where providers aren’t buried in paperwork but instead run efficient programs that allow time for meaningful interaction with the farmers they serve.”  

Turning to federal crop insurance programs and conservation, Dwyer noted that federal crop insurance can support in-field conservation by “recognizing the risk-reducing benefits of conservation, covering the transition to new practices, and offering flexibility for innovative approaches like growing cover crops for seed ahead of cash crops.

“The historic rainfall of 2019 caused unprecedented planting delays across the U.S., leading to record-high prevent plant claims and highlighting the vulnerability of our agricultural system to extreme weather. In response, a 2022 analysis examined the impact of two common conservation practices, cover crops and no-till, across six major row crop states. The findings were clear: these practices reduced the odds ratio by 24 percent. This kind of research underscores what many farmers already know — conservation not only protects the environment but also reduces production risk.” 

Continuing to offer robust and inclusive conservation and climate smart agricultural practices incentives through government-led programs will be essential in attracting and retaining future generations of farmers, Dwyer concluded. “Baby boomers currently own the majority of farmland across the United States, and within the next decade, their average age will reach 80. This puts us on the edge of a generational cliff. Without robust programs to help the next generation gain access to farmland and be economically equipped to adopt conservation practices, we risk losing our position as the global leader in production agriculture,” she said.