The Illinois Department of Agriculture is hosting a series of seminars to help farmers learn about crop conservation. Department of Agriculture officials say the seminars provide a significant opportunity for farmers to enrich their knowledge about the environmental and economic benefits of cover crops, which are plants seeded into fields and used to control soil erosion and nutrient runoff. One of the daylong events will be held on February 27th in Mount Vernon. Cost is $20 per person and registration is available on the Champaign County Soil and Water Conservation District Website. In addition to the Illinois Department of Agriculture, seminar coordinators include the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Illinois soil and water conservation districts, American Farmland Trust and Illinois Stewardship Alliance.