Structure Fires – Cultivating Caution
Farm structures present unique and often underestimated fire risks — from faulty electrical systems in aging barns to spontaneous combustion in hay and grain storage. This session covers fire prevention strategies for farm buildings and outbuildings, what farmers should and should not do in the critical minutes after a structure fire breaks out, how rural response times affect outcomes, and practical steps you can take right now to help firefighters help you - including maintaining clear access lanes and keeping updated property maps on file with your local fire department.
Premium Crop Market Opportunities
Producers have faced tight margins since 2023 for commodity corn and soybean production. Alternative markets exist for producers to capture premiums by growing organic, non-gmo, or food grade commodities. Nick Paulson and Gary Schnitkey will be joined by Kelsey Graber from Clarkson Grain Company to discuss premium markets in Illinois, including how farmers can identify opportunities and details that should be considered to determine a fit for their operation.
Sharing the Road – Cultivating Caution
Agricultural equipment and rural roadways are a dangerous combination. This session covers the lighting and Slow Moving Vehicle (SMV) sign requirements that Illinois law mandates for farm equipment operated on public roads, how to properly and safely secure the scene of a roadway accident involving farm machinery, and what critical information 911 dispatchers need when a farm vehicle is involved in a crash - including details that can shorten response times and improve outcomes for everyone involved.
Practices That Pay: What 11 Years of Data Reveals About Tillage, Nitrogen Management, and Cover Crops
What separates the most profitable corn and soybean fields from the rest? After 11 years of field data from hundreds of thousands of Illinois acres, PCM has some clear answers.
Join Dr. Laura Gentry for a look at what PCM data shows regarding tillage systems, nitrogen management, and cover crop adoption analyzed for both environmental and economic impact. This webinar will cover:
- Which tillage practices are returning the most to operators and landowners
- Where the most profitable fields land on nitrogen rates (and how that compares to what most farmers are applying)
- What cover crop data shows about profitability when incentive payments are factored in
Registration is free. The full findings will be published in PCM's annual Business Case for Conservation report, available in the June issue of Prairie Farmer Magazine or at precisionconservation.org
Severe Trauma on the Farm – Cultivating Caution
Farm entanglement injuries involving PTOs and augers are among the most devastating, and most preventable, incidents in agriculture. This session covers proper PTO and auger guard maintenance and inspection protocols to prevent entanglement, step-by-step instruction on applying commercial tourniquets correctly in a field setting, and what bystanders should, and critically, should not do while waiting for paramedics to arrive. Knowing when to act and when to wait can mean the difference between life and death.
2026 PCM Webinar Series
Join Precision Conservation Management (PCM) for our webinar series, featuring insights from leading agricultural experts on the topics that matter most to you right now. Building on the success of our 2025 series, PCM continues delivering timely, relevant content that combines data-driven insights with practical farm management strategies.
Throughout the year, our expert presenters - including PCM Director Greg Goodwin, Operations Manager Clay Bess, Dr. Laura Gentry of IL Corn and University of Illinois, and Professor Dr. Gary Schnitkey - will address the most pressing issues facing farmers today. Drawing from PCM's extensive database of real-world farming practices, topics will be selected approximately one month before each session to ensure we're covering what's most valuable and timely for your operation.
Each bi-monthly session offers practical strategies to improve your bottom line while promoting sustainable agriculture. Join us to learn how PCM's data-driven approach can transform your farming operation, combining profitability with conservation while accessing valuable opportunities.
June 11, Friday
August 4, Tuesday
October 6, Tuesday
December 1, Tuesday
Grain Bin Rescue – Cultivating Caution
Grain bin engulfments are swift, silent, and frequently fatal - not just for the victim, but for untrained bystanders who attempt a rescue. This session explains the physics of grain entrapment and why well-intentioned rescue attempts by untrained individuals so often result in double fatalities. Attendees will learn how technical rescue tubes enable safe extraction by stabilizing the grain around a victim, what fire departments need from farmers when they arrive on scene, and how you can prepare your operation in advance to support a technical rescue response.
Field Fires – Cultivating Caution
Harvest season brings dry vegetation, hot exhaust systems, and the very real threat of field fires that can spread faster than most people expect. This session covers the most common ignition sources during harvest, steps equipment operators can take before and during harvest to reduce risk, how to respond in the first critical minutes after a fire starts, when it is safe to move equipment out of a fire's path and when leaving it is the right call, and how to effectively communicate and coordinate with rural fire departments when they arrive on scene.
Farmland Values and Rental Agreements in Illinois for 2027
University of Illinois agricultural economists Dr. Gary Schnitkey and Dr. Nick Paulson invites you to a webinar focused on farmland values and rental agreements for the 2027 crop year. They will present an overview of the current state of Illinois farmland values and rents and discuss the factors which will impact values and rent negotiations for 2027. The webinar will incorporate and rely on data from USDA, IL FBFM, and professional farm managers in Illinois to provide a range of perspectives. This session aims to equip both landowners and farmers with knowledge to navigate rent negotiations.
Farmer Mental Health – Cultivating Caution
The pressures of farming - financial stress, weather uncertainty, equipment failures, and the relentless pace of harvest - can push farmers and farm families to their breaking point. This session covers how to recognize the warning signs of extreme stress, anxiety, and mental health crisis in yourself and others, practical de-escalation techniques that family members, neighbors, and coworkers can use, and how law enforcement approaches mental health crisis calls in rural settings. Attendees will also leave with a clear list of local and statewide mental health resources specifically available to farm families in Illinois.
Manure Pit Gases – Cultivating Caution
Each fall, manure pit agitation and pump-outs create one of the deadliest hazards on any livestock operation. This session covers the specific gases - including hydrogen sulfide, methane, ammonia, and carbon dioxide - produced during agitation and why they are so dangerous even in brief exposures, why strict perimeter security and the removal of all people and animals from the area is non-negotiable during pump-outs, and why fire and rescue departments cannot safely enter a pit environment without Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) gear - and what that means for response capabilities and timelines if something goes wrong.