During Soil Health Week in Illinois, you can join other soil, climate, and sustainability enthusiasts to celebrate our state’s most precious resource: soil. Across the state and online, Illinois’ top experts, farmers, researchers, and fiercest advocates for healthy soils will share their knowledge, experience, and passion for building healthy, living soil.
Through a dynamic lineup of in-person and virtual events, Soil Health Week offers practical tools, inspiring stories, and cutting-edge research that highlight how healthy soil strengthens farms, supports climate resilience, protects water quality, and builds a more just and sustainable food system.
What Is Soil Health Week?
Soil Health Week is a statewide and virtual series of events designed to educate, inspire, and connect people who care about the future of farming, food, and the environment in Illinois. Each event explores how soil health practices improve farm viability, environmental outcomes, and community well-being.
From hands-on farm tours and workshops to webinars and expert panels, Soil Health Week creates space for learning, collaboration, and action around soil health.
Who Should Attend Soil Health Week?
Soil Health Week has something for everyone. Whether you work directly in agriculture or simply care about where your food comes from, these events are designed to meet you where you are.
🌾 Farmers & Growers
For farmers seeking practical, field-tested management strategies to:
- Improve soil structure and organic matter
- Increase water infiltration and drought resilience
- Boost crop health and yields
- Reduce input costs
- Build long-term farm profitability
🥕 Eaters & Community Members
For eaters who want to understand:
- How healthy soil improves food nutrition
- The role soil plays in climate solutions
- Why soil health matters for clean water and healthy ecosystems
- How farming practices impact community well-being
🌱 Conservation Advocates & Environmental Professionals
For advocates and professionals working to:
- Protect soil, water, and biodiversity
- Advance conservation practices
- Support climate resilience and sustainability
- Strengthen policy solutions for natural resource protection
🌎 Climate, Sustainability & Food System Leaders
For anyone passionate about:
- Climate resilience
- Sustainable agriculture
- Regenerative farming
- Local and equitable food systems
Why Soil Health Matters in Illinois
Illinois is home to some of the most productive farmland in the world. Protecting and restoring our soils is essential for ensuring the long-term vitality of our farms, rural communities, and food system.
Healthy soils:
- Store carbon and help mitigate climate change
- Improve water quality by reducing runoff and erosion
- Increase resilience to floods and drought
- Support biodiversity
- Produce healthier, more nutritious food
That’s why we are celebrating our state’s most precious resource: soil and investing in education, collaboration, and action that support soil health across Illinois.
Explore Soil Health Week Events
Browse the full list of Soil Health Week events below to find opportunities near you or online. Events include:
- On-farm demonstrations
- Field days
- Workshops
- Panel discussions
- Expert-led webinars
- Community learning sessions
Whether you attend one event or many, you’ll gain valuable insights and connections that support healthy soil and resilient communities.
Join Us in Celebrating Soil
Soil Health Week is an opportunity to learn, connect, and take action. Together, we can build healthier soils, stronger farms, and more resilient communities across Illinois.
Scroll down to see a list of events to join us as we celebrate our state’s most precious resource: soil. Don’t forget to check back regularly, as we will add more events as they come in.
Interested in hosting your own Soil Health Week event? Scroll past the event list or click here to learn more and apply to host.
Soil Health Week Events
MONday, March 2
How Conservation Planners, STAR, and Farmers Work Together to Achieve Soil Health
Hosted by Hannah Tomlin: IDOA/USDA-NRCS Conservation Capacity Building Initiative
Monday, March 2, 2026
9am – 10am
ONLINE / VIRTUAL Event
In this webinar, attendees will learn about the Capacity Building Initiative and the STAR program, as well as hear from a farmer who has benefited from using the STAR tool to measure soil health, select next steps like USDA-NRCS programs, and work toward the goals outlined in the State’s Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy.
TUEsday, March 3
Cover Crops to Feed Your Veggies- Carbon-to-Nitrogen Ratio 101
Hosted by Torey Colburn- American Farmland Trust
Tuesday, March 3, 2026
9am – 10am
ONLINE / VIRTUAL Event
Understanding how carbon and nitrogen move through soil is a cornerstone of managing nutrient availability for crops. Whether growing corn and soybeans for commodity markets or tomatoes and peppers for a farmers’ market, the same biological processes apply and are essential to maximizing the benefits of cover crops. This presentation will provide foundational knowledge that participants can build on to improve soil health in both raised beds and 100+-acre fields.
Digging deeper into cover crops & N2O emissions
Hosted by Bonnie McGill and Jean Brokish (American Farmland Trust)
Tuesday, March 3, 2026
3pm – 4pm
ONLINE / VIRTUAL Event
Cover cropping is a key practice for building soil health and reducing nitrate leaching, but a pair of short-duration studies on Illinois fields suggested that cover crops may increase nitrous oxide (N2O, a greenhouse gas) emissions. In this session we will dig deeper into the scientific literature to understand the impacts of cover crops on N2O, and we’ll discuss potential nitrogen trade-offs of cover crops. We’ll use plain English to understand the larger trends of cover crops and N2O.
No-till Cover Cropping System for Tomatoes and Peppers with a High Tunnel
Hosted by U of IL Extension
Tuesday, March 3, 2026
5:30pm – 6:30pm
University of Illinois Dixon Springs Agricultural Research Station | Simpson, IL
Cover cropping within a high tunnel can help to improve yield and fruit quality by increasing water and nutrient uptake, improving soil microbiology, increasing organic matter, and more. Learn about fall seeding, termination timing, and methods for no-till planting of tomato and pepper cash crops after a winter cover crop.
“Kiss the Ground” Film Screening
Hosted by Mercer Soil and Water Conservation District
Tuesday, March 3, 2026
6pm
Aledo Opera House | Aledo, IL
The incredible documentary “Kiss the Ground” reveals that, by regenerating the world’s soils, we can completely and rapidly stabilize Earth’s climate, restore lost ecosystems and create abundant food supplies. Using compelling graphics and visuals, along with striking NASA and NOAA footage, the film artfully illustrates how, by drawing down atmospheric carbon, soil is the missing piece of the climate puzzle.
Wednesday, March 4
Midwest Covers & Grains Conference
Hosted by Practical Farmers of Iowa
Wednesday, March 4, 2026
8am – 4pm
Five Points Washington Community Center | Washington, IL
The Midwest Covers & Grains Conference brings together Midwestern farmers to promote successful farming using extended rotations and cover crops with or without livestock. The conference includes farmer-led sessions for experienced practitioners and for those looking to add small grains and cover crops for the first time. Come explore these topics and network with other farmers and service providers!
Small Grain Infrastructure Workshop: Part of the Midwest Covers and Grains Conference
Hosted by Andy Hazzard, Katie Funk, Jeff Hake, and Practical Farmers of Iowa
Wednesday, March 4, 2026
2:30pm – 4pm
Five Points Washington Community Center | Washington, IL
Establishing and growing a food-grade grain business takes time, money and strategy. Finding space and equipment to meet needs is tricky, but scaling up can make a world of difference for a business to meet the demand for their locally processed and milled grains. Andy Hazzard of Hazzard Free Farm Grains and Jeff Hake and Katie Funk of Funks Grove Heritage Fruits & Grains are excited to share about recent infrastructure changes on their vertically integrated farms, offering improved efficiency and opportunities for growth.
Mushroom Workshop
Hosted by Kane Dupage Soil and Water Conservation District
Wednesday, March 4, 2026
6pm – 8pm
Extension Office | Saint Charles, IL
*This event has already reached capacity. Registrations are now closed.
Explore the Fascinating Realm of Mushrooms! Mushroom Cultivation: Discover the art and science of cultivating delicious and nutritious mushrooms at home. Gourmet & Medicinal Mushrooms: Learn the secrets of gourmet varieties that add a touch of luxury to your meals, as well as medicinal mushrooms treasured for their health-promoting properties. Educational Insights: Delve into the ecological benefits of mushrooms and their potential for environmental stewardship.
THURSday, March 5
Conservation Walk at the ISA Agronomy Farm
Hosted by Illinois Soybean Association
Thursday, March 5, 2026
2pm – 4pm
Illinois Soybean Association Agronomy Farm | Heyworth, IL
Join the Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) for a Conservation Walk at the ISA Agronomy Farm. This free public event highlights on-farm research in soil health, weed management, and conservation practices. Attendees will visit several research and demonstration areas, including a cover crop biomass and weed-suppression trial, cover crop and pollinator plots, and a rainfall simulator demonstration. ISA staff and partners will share findings on using cover crops to manage herbicide-resistant weeds and provide information on conservation funding and technical assistance. The ISA Agronomy Farm is located on U.S. 51 in McLean County, about two miles south of Heyworth. Look for the ISA Agronomy Farm sign and park in the grass lane. Please dress for the weather and be prepared to walk in field conditions. For questions, contact Whitney Miller at whitney.miller@ilsoy.org or 309-445-0947.
The 4th Annual Southern Illinois Soil Health Symposium
Hosted by Glacier’s End and Food Works
Thursday, March 5, 2026
5:30pm – 8pm
Glaciers End | Marion, IL
The Southern Illinois Soil Health Symposium will be geared towards educating and motivating people to learn more about and take action around soil and water health and the practices that forward these causes. The Soil Health focus this year will be centered around Soil Health Basics for Markets and Home Gardening.
2026 Soil Summit
Hosted by Farm Bureau, Clinton County Farm Bureau, Southern Illinois Farmers for Soil Health.
Thursday, March 5, 2026
6pm – 9pm
St. Rose Development Center | Breese, IL
March 5 6-9pm
Featuring Ray Archuleta
This session will explore soil health principles, profitability, and how farmers can transition for regenerative systems.
Dinner at 6pm, presentation begins at 7pm
FRIday, March 6
90 Years Later: Learning From the Largest Windbreak Planting in the United States
Hosted by The Savannah Institute
Friday, March 6, 2026
10am – 11am
ONLINE / VIRTUAL EVENT
Join us in conversation with Landscape Architecture Professor, Sarah Karle, and National Agroforestry Center’s Gary Bentrup, to discuss the social and agricultural impacts of FDR’s “Great Wall of Trees” that spanned Texas to North Dakota–over 18,000 square miles of farmland. Facilitated by the Savanna Institute’s MJ Oviatt, Sarah and Gary will also highlight never-before-seen photos, maps, and primary source material from their newly published Prairie State Forestry Project Digital Archive
Regen Ag: Nook and Cranny Style Farming
Hosted by Ed Dubrick, DuChick Ranch
Friday, March 6, 2026
1pm
ONLINE / VIRTUAL EVENT
Learn how regenerative agriculture works on a small-scale farm. We’ll share soil test results, real-world yields, and practical solutions for farming limited acreage—balancing profitability, stewardship, and quality food.
Knox Farm Celebrates Soil Health
Hosted by Kristina Hope, Knox Farm
Friday, March 6, 2026
4pm – 5:30pm
Knox College Farm | Galesburg, IL
The Knox Farm is an on-campus student-powered urban farm that provides hands-on learning experiences. The one-acre space includes two high tunnels, outdoor gardens, and a biodiverse landscape of edible and medicinal plants. Produce from the farm is shared with the Knox Cafeteria, volunteers, and the community. Join us to learn about soil health at the Knox farm with composting, cover cropping, soil blocking, seed starting, and mulching.
Saturday, March 7
Kick-off the 2026 Season of the Hope Garden
Hosted by Hope Center
Saturday, March 7, 2026
10am – 2pm
Hope Center | Blue Island, IL
Join the Hope Center to kick-off the 2026 Season of the Hope Garden! This project aims to eliminate food insecurity by training families in the Blue Island community how to grow food from their balcony to their back yard and everything in-between. For more information please visit: https://hopecenter.tv/
Know and Improve Your Garden Soil
Hosted by Wesley Jarell
Saturday, March 7, 2026
1pm – 3pm
Prairie Fruits Farm & Creamery | Champaign, IL
Prairie Fruits Farm envisions a sustainable, community-centered approach to agriculture and hospitality, where guests can connect deeply with the land and experience the best of farm-to-table dining. With a commitment to authentic experiences, the farm aims to foster a greater appreciation for local food systems, artisan craftsmanship, and environmental stewardship. Visit the farm and bring your soil in for simple analysis and discussion on how to improve it, focusing on organic soil management.
Container Planting Demonstration
Hosted by Slumbusters, the Neighborhood Life Saver
Saturday, March 7, 2026
1pm – 3pm
Slumbusters Historic Garden | Chicago, IL
Slumbusters have been improving neighborhood conditions in Chicago for decades! Visit the historic Slumbusters Neighborhood Garden as they demonstrate how to create a healthy container soil mix and plant cool season crops for Spring!
Tuesday, March 10
Growing it Back and Keeping it Home
Hosted by Shelby County NRCS and Two Mile Creek Organic Farms
Tuesday, March 10, 2026
10am – 2pm
Two Mile Creek Farm | Sullivan, IL
Visit Two Mile Creek Farm and talk “Regeneration!”, a presentation on the importance of keeping living covers on the ground year round and how livestock contribute to growing a healthy soil. Hear about how these two concepts helped Two Mile Creek become a regenerative farm.
Submit Your Event Proposal
We are keeping the Soil Health Week hosting tradition alive by giving you the opportunity to bring your soil ideas to the table and make this a powerful celebration that reaches even more audiences across Illinois.
What do you need in order to host an event during Soil Health Week?
An event idea! Events may be virtual or in-person. Perhaps a presentation on a topic relating to soil health or climate change, a coffee chat to discuss best practices, an invite to a farm tour/field day, or something else entirely.You, your idea, your farm, or your organization could be front and center at the upcoming annual Soil Health Week!
The application is now open for you to propose an event, workshop, speaker, screening, field day, or anything you dream up to celebrate one of our state’s most precious resources: our soil.
Whether it’s a virtual presentation, a field day exploring soil health practices or whatever helps educate about the power of healthy soil, we invite you to submit your idea.
Propose a date and time during March 2-8. You may need to be flexible to accommodate multiple events.
Have a location in mind (online or in-person).
Proposals are due on Monday, February 9th.
If your event is given the green light for Soil Health Week, here’s what you can expect to receive as a host:
- The Alliance will offer our support with marketing by making frequent posts, sharing your unique sign up form, and adding your event to a Soil Health Week Event Calendar
- An online registration form will automatically generate for you once your event is approved based on the information you share in your proposal. You are responsible for sharing your event registration and staying in communication with registrants to your event.
- We will share your logo and social media handles in our marketing
- You will receive a marketing toolkit complete with tips and sample blurb.
- If you’d like to discuss your idea first or brainstorm possible partners, please email our Soil Health Week Coordinator, Valerie for assistance.
