Bureau County Republican

IVCC partners with U of I for ag research

OGLESBY — Already working closely to build and expand the Illinois Valley Community College agriculture program, IVCC and the University of Illinois Extension are launching an ag-related partnership.

Utilizing about 149 acres of IVCC farmland, the Extension is in the early stages of developing a soil research program. Initial focus of the research is finding effective means of reducing cropland nitrogen loss — a serious environmental concern due to the possibility of contaminating the Illinois and Mississippi River watersheds.

This new partnership also has great potential for future IVCC ag students as it may lead to additional agronomy educational opportunities.

“We are excited to be part of the effort to find solutions to one of the major agriculture environmental challenges of our time and are proud of our growing relationship with the university’s College of ACES,” said IVCC President Jerry Corcoran.

Daryle Wragge, program coordinator for the Extension’s Bureau-LaSalle-Putnam-Marshall Unit headquartered at IVCC, said, “The partnership of our unit and IVCC in establishing an agronomic research facility is invaluable to our producers and agricultural industry. It will provide valuable research in crop production issues that affect our farmers’ bottom lines.”

Russ Higgins, commercial agriculture educator for the Extension, said, “Our unit is pleased to bring U of I resources to the district. Extension is the outreach arm of the university, and our focus in all programs is to provide unbiased, research-based information to improve the lives of people where they live and work.

“Our joint goal is to build on resources and collaborate on programming that supports the area’s ag industry ... and serve IVCC’s new agriculture students.”

One of the first public activities of the new research program is an Ag Field Day at IVCC Tuesday, Aug. 2.