About Us

PCM – A Conservation Program That Puts Farmers First

Precision Conservation Management (PCM) is the premier conservation program of the IL Corn Growers Association. Our understanding of farmers is what makes us different.

We apply financial analysis to in-field conservation practices to help farmers adopt practices that impact environmental goals without risking their bottom line.

Learn More

PCM STAFF

PCM Conservation Specialists

PCM Conservation Specialists offer one-on-one technical support to farmers in their region. Specialists compile and review custom farm reports, assess farm data, demonstrate agronomic strengths and weaknesses, and discuss how each farm compares to other farms in their region. They also connect farmers with federal, state and local cost-share programs – making it a priority to stay up-to-date on the latest rules, regulation, and opportunities to maximize farm revenue.

Clay Bess

PCM Operations Manager 

Clay supervises daily operations of Specialists throught the program.

cbess@precisionconservation.org
309-445-0278

Leyton Brown

Precision Conservation Specialist

Illinois: Champaign, Douglas, Edgar, Ford and Vermilion counties.

lbrown@precisionconservation.org
309-307-7515

Jonah Cooley

Precision Conservation Specialist

Illinois: Champaign, DeWitt, and Piatt counties.

jcooley@precisionconservation.org
309-200-6167

Darren Cudaback

Precision Conservation Specialist

Nebraska: Gothenburg Region

dcudaback@precisionconservation.org
308-216-1153

Jacob Gard

Precision Conservation Specialist

Illinois: Coles, Douglas, Edgar, and Vermillion counties.

jgard@precisionconservation.org
309-200-6180

Andrew Hiser

Precision Conservation Specialist

Illinois: Christian, Macoupin, Macon, and Sangamon counties.

ahiser@precisionconservation.org
309-307-7520

Andrea Kuehner

Precision Conservation Specialist

Illinois: Clinton, Madison, Monroe, St. Clair and Washington counties.

akuehner@precisionconservation.org
309-319-8809

Lou Liva

Precision Conservation Specialist

Illinois: Henry, Knox, Mercer, and Rock Island counties.

lliva@precisionconservation.org
309-391-2346

Seth Norquest

Precision Conservation Specialist

Nebraska: York Region

snorquest@precisionconservation.org
402-710-1987

Alexa Skirmont

Precision Conservation Specialist

Illinois: Boone, Dekalb, Lee, Ogle, and Winnebago, counties.

askirmont@precisionconservation.org
309-336-9779

Chris Stewart

Precision Conservation Specialist

Kentucky (Lower Cumberland, Lower Green, and Purchase Regions)

cstewart@precisionconservation.org
270-205-2258

Aidan Walton

Precision Conservation Specialist

Illinois: Ford, Livingston, Logan, Mclean, Tazewell, and Woodford counties.

awalton@precisionconservation.org
309-391-2345

Support Staff

Debbie Malloch

Administrative Manager

dmalloch@ilcorn.org
309-807-3456

Megan Miller

Grants & Program Manager

mmiller@precisionconservation.org
309-712-7122

Rosalie Trump

Communications & Marketing

rtrump@precisionconservation.org
815-751-6145

Patrick Morse

Data Specialist

pmorse@precisionconservation.org

PCM Leadership

Building and growing the PCM program requires leadership, tenacity and a wide range of skillsets. Our founders are visionaries and wholly committed to farmers and to economically viable precision conservation. 

Greg Goodwin

Director of Precision Conservation Managment
ggoodwin@ilcorn.org
618-553-2027

Mr. Greg Goodwin leads IL Corn’s water quality and sustainability initiatives focused
on implementing the Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy and meeting supply
chain sustainability demands. In partnership with others, he develops and implements
education, outreach and research to help Illinois corn farmers reach their nutrient loss
goals and engage in the sustainability conversation.

Greg has an extensive background in helping farmers and environmentalists understand how agricultural chemicals can impact our environment. He holds an M.S. in Agricultural Engineering focused in Soil and Water Resources from UIUC. Greg will direct and oversee the PCM program which includes overseeing daily operations, business development, grant reporting, budget analysis and more.

Dr. Laura Gentry

Director of Water Quality Science, IL Corn
Adjunct Professor, University of Illinois
lgentry@ilcorn.org
217-244-9165

Dr. Laura Gentry’s work focuses on watershed research to support agriculture water
quality initiatives and nutrient management. She most recently served as research
assistant professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, specializing in
the sustainability of high-yielding corn production systems, residue management and
reduced tillage, and production and sustainability of annual bioenergy crops. Previous
to her position at UIUC, she was an assistant professor at North Dakota State University.
Her Ph.D. studies focused on the effect of tillage, rotation and organic amendments on
nutrient cycling.

Dr. Gary Schnitkey

Professor, University of Illinois
schnitke@illinois.edu
217-244-9595

Dr. Gary Schnitkey is a professor and farm management specialist in the Department
of Agricultural & Consumer Economics, University of Illinois. His activities focus on
farm management and risk management, including examination of issues impacting
the profitability of grain farms such as corn-soybean rotations, machinery economics,
and factors separating profitable from unprofitable farms. Schnitkey performed
economic analysis for the Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy and the economic analysis
for conservation practices through the PCM program.

Glen Salo

PCM Techology Partner
CEO, Heartland Science & Technology Group


The late Mr. Glen Salo, an electrical engineer and entrepreneur, successfully established multiple technical teams and organizational units to support government programs, private industry, and public good missions for small, large, and independent not-for-profit businesses.

His team at Heartland Science & Technology Group operates the PCM Farmer Portal, and continues to develop and expand it’s supporting data analysis technologies.

PCM FOUNDERS

TRUSTED COLLABORATORS
UP & DOWN THE SUPPLY CHAIN

Forming Meaningful Partnerships While Maintaining a Farmer-First Ethic

Conservation is not just farmer’s responsibility – it’s the responsibility of everyone up and down the entire food supply chain. PCM is committed to building meaningful partnerships with a farmer-first ethic.

Founding Agencies Include:
Illinois Corn Growers Association
Heartland Science & Technology Group
Illioins Farm Business Farm Management Association
University of Illinois College of ACES
Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service

PCM PILLAR PARTNERS

PCM Pillar Partner

IL Corn

IMPROVING BUSINESS & REGULATORY POLICY

IL Corn is a state-based organization that represents the interests of corn farmers in Illinois, maintaining a high profile on issues in Washington, DC, and Springfield, IL. They aim to create and maintain opportunities for Illinois corn farmers to capture more value for their product. In order to fulfill this mission, the organization conducts governmental affairs activities at all levels, market development projects, and educational and member service programs. For further information regarding their work and involvement, visit their website www.ilcorn.org.

PCM Pillar Partner

University of Illinois

COLLEGE OF ACES

The College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES) has been an integral part of the University of Illinois from day one. Although proudly ranked among the top 30 agricultural schools worldwide, today we are more than agriculture. ACES is a diverse college with top-rated programs in engineering, finance and economics, nutritional science, and more. While our faculty and student body have various specialties and areas of interest, we are all working toward a common goal of improving daily life for people around the world.

PCM Pillar Partner

Heartland Science & Technology Group

SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH & ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT

Heartland Science & Technology Group is committed to solving technical challenges of national, local, and public interest by engaging in scientific research and engineering development, providing and maintaining technology solutions, and facilitating and managing collaborative partnerships. 

As the founding technology partner of PCM, Heartland was at the table at PCM’s inception. As a trusted partner, Heartland continues to maintain and evolve the PCM Farmer Portal, it’s data and tools – and provides security services to manage and protect farmer data.

Heartland Science and Technology Group is a 501(C)(3) not-for-profit corporation in Champaign, IL, founded by experienced engineers, researchers, and business professionals devoted to technical excellence and responsiveness to client needs.

PCM FUNDERS

We are grateful to the following agencies for their financial support: