On May 9th, the Illinois Sustainable Agriculture Partnership’s Policy Committee hosted a “Policy Round-Up” over Zoom entitled “What’s New in Conservation Ag?” The webinar included updates from individual ISAP members on their organization’s policy priorities and other updates of farm-related legislation at the state and federal level.
To kick things off, Eliot Clay, executive director for the Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts shared an update on Soil and Water Conservation District funding. Clay first discussed how SWCDs have gone through some dramatic funding changes in the past, but in the last couple years have reached an operating fund of $8.5 million. In last year’s FY25 budget, the funding was cut again to $4.5 million. The goal now is to restore that money to $8.5 million.
To supplement this funding, Clay and others have worked to get SWCDs to be declared a member initiative by Senator Koehler, to put funding at $10.5 million. Another focus is Senate Bill 2387, which would provide $275 for every acre of farmland taken out of production for development, and would amount to an estimated $17 million in funding, which would provide much needed funding towards the salaries of district employees. The bill is currently sitting in the Senate’s appropriations committee and could be called up for a subject matter hearing soon. Up to 51% of the Senate co-sponsors the bill, so the outlook for Bill 2387 is hopeful.
Fall Covers for Spring Savings (FCSS) was the next policy effort introduced by Claire Shipp, policy manager for American Farmland Trust. FCSS provides $5 per acre toward a crop insurance rebate for farmers who plant cover crops. The FY25 budget increased allocations to $960,000, but this fiscal year the governor’s proposed budget dropped this number to $660,000. The goal is to restore the lost funding and two ways to do that are pushing for marker bills such as House Bill 3992, sponsored by Representative Chung and Senate Bill 2625, sponsored by Senator Ellman. Leader McCombie has also filed House Bill 4047 in support of the program.
Ashley Maybanks, director of government relations for the Illinois Nature Conservancy, provided an update on a Shoreline Restoration bill which passed last year. The law will establish a grant program administered by the Department of Natural Resources to fund native grass and tree plantings by nonprofits and local units of state government. Maintenance of those lands through invasive species removal or prescribed fire are also included. Rules are still being drawn up for this bill. The Shoreline Restoration program will add potential shoreline restoration grant funding for eligible projects to the original bill. The bill has passed the Senate nearly unanimously and has passed a House committee.
Following this, “What’s up with the Farm Bill?” was discussed by Colin Cisco from Illinois Soybean Association. The 2018 Farm Bill was supposed to be renewed in 2023 but was instead granted a one-year extension in 2023 and again in 2024. Another potential Farm Bill was introduced, but political and budgetary differences make it unlikely it will pass. A bill may be passed through reconciliation that includes less than the current Farm Bill, but any compromise on a new Farm Bill has proven difficult.
The webinar was joined by over 70 attendees, highlighting the interest and value of this type of program. ISAP’s Policy Committee will continue to share updates and resources to increase transparency on the status of conservation agriculture legislation in Illinois.
