Precision Conservation Management to Expand Conservation Acres in Illinois through PepsiCo Partnership

Apr 27, 2023

Precision Conservation Management (PCM) will be partnering with PepsiCo to expand conservation acres in Illinois through 2030. PCM Director Greg Goodwin disclosed that the partnership would prioritize three key conservation practices: planting cover crops, reducing tillage, and adjusting nitrogen application rates and timing.

In 2022, the partnership enabled PCM to promote the use of conservation practices on more than 150,000 acres across PCM regions in Nebraska and Illinois. Goodwin expressed the importance of the partnership in addressing the water quality goals of partner states, including Illinois.

PCM's collaborations with the Illinois Corn, Illinois Soybean Association, and Heartland Science and Technology Group strengthen the program's expertise in providing advisory services to farmer cooperators. The program aims to maximize farmer profitability and increase the adoption of conservation practices in select counties in Illinois, Kentucky, and Nebraska.

Video: Turning Better Feed Into Better Herds: Innovation in Forage Harvesting

What happens when a dairy farmer gets frustrated with equipment that isn’t doing its job? In this episode, we sit down with Horning Manufacturing founder Leon Horning to hear how a problem in the feed bunk led to a globally recognized forage equipment company.

Born out of a third-generation dairy operation in Pennsylvania, Horning Manufacturing started with one goal: helping cows get more nutrition from silage. Leon shares how his father, Leon Sr., built the first kernel processor rolls in the family farm shop after seeing whole corn kernels pass through cows undigested — costing valuable feed efficiency and milk production.

We explore the company’s journey from a side project on the farm to an international manufacturer serving dairy farmers, beef operators, and custom harvesters around the world. Along the way, Leon discusses the evolution of pull-type forage harvesters, the engineering behind Horning’s “plug-and-play” kernel processor kits, and why reducing downtime during harvest can make or break a season.

The conversation also dives into Horning’s row-independent corn heads, practical equipment design, real-world customer stories, and how innovations born in the field continue to shape the company today.

Whether you’re a producer, equipment enthusiast, or simply love stories of grassroots innovation, this episode offers a fascinating look at how one farm family turned necessity into industry-changing technology.