Lant earns Mike Plumer award

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — The Illinois Corn Growers Association announced that Laura Lant, an agronomist at Midwest Grass & Forage in Macomb, received the Mike Plumer Environmental Excellence Award at the organization’s annual meeting Nov. 25.

This award honors individuals — either farmers or professionals — who demonstrate innovation and leadership in conservation, nutrient management and soil health.

Lant was recognized for her outstanding commitment to helping Illinois farmers implement practical, effective conservation strategies that improve both productivity and environmental outcomes on their farms.

Through her work at Midwest Grass & Forage, Lant has become a trusted resource and advocate for conservation in Illinois agriculture. She offers personalized guidance to help farmers improve their land, build soil health and protect water quality, with a focus on providing resources to guarantee long-term success for farmers.

Her expertise and dedication have made her a key partner for farmers navigating the challenges of sustainable crop and livestock production.

Whether advising on cover crop mixes or helping plan long-term conservation strategies, Lant has consistently empowered farmers with tools and knowledge to implement systems that are both environmentally and economically sustainable.

Midwest Grass & Forage offers a wide range of products, including turf, pasture, wildlife and cover crop seed. Lant’s focus is on working directly with customers to identify the right solutions for their specific goals — whether that means improving forage quality, establishing pollinator habitat, or designing a nutrient management system that protects local water resources.

Outside of her professional commitments, she enjoys traveling, cooking and collaborating on projects with her husband at the farm.

“Laura represents the spirit of this award perfectly,” said ICGA President Mark Bunselmeyer, of Maroa.

“She meets farmers where they are, provides real-world solutions and helps move conservation forward in her region. Her focus on building trusted relationships and commitment to walk with farmers as they adopt new practices make her a powerful advocate for soil health and sustainability.”

“I am really honored to receive this award. I was still pretty early in my career as Mike was stepping out of his, but I had the opportunity to hear him speak a few times,” Lant said.

“He was very passionate about soil health and conservation and to receive an award in his honor is truly very memorable. I’m very blessed. Mike really helped to open a lot of doors in a lot of people’s eyes on how some simple changes could really promote the long-term health of their farm operation, while still maintaining profitability.

“He truly was one of the pioneers in no-till and cover crops, and a lot of people today are still using the things that he taught them.”

“We work with producers in our area to help select cover crop or forage seeds,” she added. “We also have a dealer network that stretches across Illinois into Iowa and Indiana. We work with our dealers to help them find products that fit their customers’ needs.”

Family Business

Midwest Grass & Forage is a family-owned business and Lant’s role includes “wearing a lot of different hats throughout the year.”

“My two favorite parts of the business are seed purchasing and working direct with the farmers,” she said. “On the seed purchasing side, I get to decide what companies have products that fit us and fit our customers. A lot of times we’ll bring new products in and try them on the small acreage behind our facility in Macomb.”

One example of trying new products was when she tried a new TapIt brassica, a deep-rooted turnip.

“I think I only had it out on six people’s fields and I got calls from several of the six that had it. On a dry year, to have guys excited about something they put in that winter-kills is truly astonishing,” she said.

“So, it’s always fun to kind of find those products that you feel are going to be those next big things and get to introduce them to some farmers. That’s one thing I really enjoy getting to do is find the right products and try to be ahead of the curve in getting what will guys up for success.

“The other part I really enjoy is being boots on the ground out in the fields with guys, helping them tailor cover crops to their operation. Illinois has a lot of different variability and growing areas.

“We’ve worked with producers up in the driftless region folks on irrigated sand in the river bottoms to very high-dollar, nice, flat, black farmland. We’ve been able to work guys to make cover crops fit all of those situations, to help them meet their goals and insure the long-term soil health and success of their farm.”

About The Award

The Mike Plumer Environmental Excellence Award is named in honor of the late Mike Plumer, a pioneer in agricultural conservation whose work with cover crops and reduced tillage shaped the landscape of sustainable farming in Illinois.

The award is presented to a farmer or conservation professional who demonstrates:

• Innovative and/or cutting-edge environmental practices.

• Leadership in conservation, nutrient management, or soil health.

• The ability to serve as a role model for other farmers.