CHAMPAIGN — In this guest op-ed, Illinois farmer Josh Curry explains how conservation investments like the Climate Pollution Reduction Grant are helping family farms manage rising costs, unpredictable weather, and long-term sustainability challenges. He credits Gov. JB Pritzker’s focus on conservation as essential infrastructure for agriculture and encourages lawmakers to reinforce that commitment by ensuring local Soil and Water Conservation Districts have the resources needed to deliver these programs effectively across Illinois:

Why the Governor’s Conservation Commitment Matters on Real Farms

By Josh Curry

Curry Family Farms, Alpha, Illinois

Like many family farmers in Illinois, my operation sits at the intersection of tradition and pressure. We farm land that has been in our family for generations, but today we do so under conditions that are tougher and less predictable than ever. Input costs are high, markets swing fast, and weather extremes now feel routine rather than rare. The margins are thin, and every decision carries long-term consequences.

That’s why Governor JB Pritzker’s commitment to conservation matters so much to farmers like me.

Curry Family Farms operates across Henry, Knox, and Mercer Counties, where corn and soybeans remain the backbone of local economies. In 2024 and 2025, our operation — like many others — ran at negative margins. We knew that practices like no-till and reduced tillage could improve soil health, reduce erosion, and lower long-term costs. But knowing what works and being able to afford it are two very different things.

The Climate Pollution Reduction Grant (CPRG) helped bridge that gap.

Through CPRG, Illinois is investing directly in climate-smart agriculture, including no-till and strip-till practices that keep soil in place, improve water quality, and make farms more resilient to extreme weather. For our farm, being accepted into the program was transformative. It allowed us to move forward with conservation improvements that would have otherwise stayed on the wish list. Those changes didn’t just reduce emissions. They reduced risk, stabilized our operation, and helped put us back on solid footing.

This didn’t happen by accident. Governor Pritzker deserves real credit for recognizing that conservation is not a luxury or a talking point—it’s essential infrastructure for agriculture. By prioritizing climate-smart farming through CPRG, the Governor sent a clear message: Illinois farmers are not being asked to shoulder this transition alone. The state is stepping up as a partner.

That partnership matters because farmers are practical. We respond to programs that respect our independence, work on the ground, and make economic sense. CPRG does exactly that. No-till and reduced-till practices reduce fuel use, limit erosion, protect yields, and strengthen soil over time. When paired with meaningful incentives, they are good for farmers and good for the communities downstream that depend on clean water and stable infrastructure.

But strong programs only succeed if the system delivering them is strong enough to carry the load.

As CPRG expands, lawmakers now have a responsibility to follow the Governor’s lead by fully funding local Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs). These districts are the trusted, boots-on-the-ground partners who help farmers navigate applications, design conservation plans, and make practices work field by field. Grants don’t install practices. People do.

Illinois has already seen the cost of letting conservation capacity fall behind—dust storms closing highways, drinking water advisories, and growing pressure on rural infrastructure. Preventing those outcomes is far less expensive than responding after the fact.

Governor Pritzker has shown leadership by making conservation a priority and ensuring Illinois competes successfully for federal climate dollars. Now the General Assembly must join that commitment by investing in the local conservation infrastructure that makes these programs real.

For family farmers like me, the message is simple: when Illinois invests in practical conservation, it helps keep farms viable, families on the land, and agriculture strong for the next generation.