2007 Illinois State Report

Natural Resources Conservation Activities

January 2008

NRCS State Office
2118 West Park Court
Champaign, IL 61821
(217) 353-6600
Web Site: www.il.nrcs.usda.gov

Greetings Conservation Friends and Partners!

This report tells a story of Illinois private landowners and their commitment to conservation. It shows what talented and educated conservation professionals can accomplish. It demonstrates how important natural resource protection is to NRCS, our clients and our many partners. Across this state and the nation is a powerful network of people involved in doing agriculture right--making agriculture productive enough to meet our needs for food, fiber and energy and yet going about it in an environmentally responsible and sustainable way.

2007 was a banner year. Landowners planted record amounts of corn and in some areas of the state reached almost unbelievable yield goals. Sadly, other regions suffered drought, flooding, storms and damage. For many of our clients, it was a great year. For others, it was a struggle. 2007 was intended to be the year we received a new Farm Bill, but we still await the final outcome of that as well.

Even so, I feel confident that the next Farm Bill will be good news for agriculture and especially good news for conservationists. It is clear that natural resource management, environmental quality, water quality and energy conservation alternatives are high on the priority list of the American public and our leaders. Although we don’t know the details of the new legislation and the Conservation Title, I know it will offer good and solid solutions and simplified ways of accomplishing our mutual goals.

The 2002 Farm Bill offered new programs and opportunities that improved Illinois agriculture and our resource base. The new Farm Bill will do even more. I hope you are as eager as those of us at NRCS are to get busy with the new policies and make them work for Illinois private landowners.

William J. Gradle, State Conservationist

A Productive Year

NRCS in Illinois worked hard in fiscal year 2007, delivering a multitude of technical services and information to private landowners in search of conservation solutions. NRCS is able to provide cost-share funds that help farmers cover the expenses needed to design, construct, and install time-tested conservation practices. NRCS Conservation Operations funds make it possible for technically trained NRCS staff to offer guidance, counsel, and hands-on technical help for conservation-minded landowners. “Like the clients we serve, our staff have a profound commitment and passion for delivering quality conservation,” says Bill Gradle, NRCS Illinois State Conservationist.

EQIP
New contracts: 1,500
Acres: 149,740
Cost-share: $12.6 million

EQIP continues to be NRCS’ flagship program since it offers a broad base of solutions needed in a conservation operation. Whether clients need cost-share for structures and management related to confined livestock or grazing systems or just general farm operations management, EQIP offers significant technical support, detailed standards and financial help. 2007 special incentives for developing forest management plans were well received by Illinois producers--more than 1,000 such plans were developed. This confirms EQIP support of agricultural and forest land in Illinois.

WHIP
New contracts: 26
Acres: 3,907
Cost-share: $316,420

3,777 acres of upland habitat were improved for wildlife and 130 acres were restored with wetland wildlife habitat management. Fifty-two acres were restored and managed for rare and declining habitats. With WHIP, landowners develop habitat plans, plant trees and buffers or native grasses, and wetland or shallow water areas. WHIP continues to be popular among producers and wildlife enthusiasts.

EQIP Targets Special Issues

• Forest Mgt Plans
• Drainage Water Mgt
• Irrigation Water Mgt
• Stream Bank Repairs

In 2007, Illinois EQIP directed special emphasis to specific natural resource conservation solutions. Special incentives were made available to applicants interested in developing Forest Management Plans on their property. Also, two Ground and Surface Water Conservation Projects were offered--Drainage Water Management and Irrigation Water Management. Still working effectively are the many Steambank Stabilization projects along sections of the Spoon River. About 47,400 feet of streambanks were secured in 2007.


Both water management techniques are well researched and demonstrate successful ways to conserve water quantity as well as improve its quality. As a result of this special effort, Illinois producers have signed up to install irrigation water management on 1,763 acres on their farms. For 2007, 30 new EQIP contracts were selected for funding in the Spoon River, bringing more than $1 million in cost-share solutions to the area.

[CAPTION] NRCS staff, clients and partners have restored and protected stream banks like this along the Illinois and Spoon River.

CSP
NRCS prepares for CSP signup in 2008 for the Lower Cache Watershed

The Conservation Security Program (CSP) is designed to recognize and reward true stewards of the land. CSP identities the “best of the best” -- conservationists who have demonstrated a lasting commitment to soil and water conservation on their land. The Conservation Security Program (CSP) remains popular, although it has been riddled with administrative challenges and under funded. Tentative plans are to offer a CSP sign-up in the Lower Cache watershed in 2008. The watershed includes parts of Union, Johnson, Alexander, Pulaski and Massac Counties. The area is rich with resources, biodiversity and wildlife habitat and is bordered on the south by the Ohio River.

RC&D
In 2007, RC&D efforts helped create 107 new local businesses. Land and water resources were protected on 23,430 acres through RC&D projects.

Again in 2007 NRCS Illinois’ 10 authorized RC&D areas became more vigilant in support of mainstream NRCS conservation programs. RC&D continues to support local community needs, economic development, and natural resource protection. Funding available for RC&D experienced cutbacks in 2007, but RC&D Councils and staff have found innovative ways to continue to function and provide needed support to NRCS Field Offices. A total of 186 projects, 33 of which were Agri-tourism, were completed, assisting nearly 2.4 million Illinois residents. Three RC&D areas remain unauthorized and have not yet been approved for federal funding, however they continue to operate and make progress on important local projects and goals. The existence of an RC&D area is still being considered for northeastern Illinois, although no firm plans have been made.

Soil Survey
1.7 million acres were updated; 11 county soil surveys were made available on the web

Use and popularity of NRCS’ Web Soil Survey continues to grow and gain momentum. As use and acceptance of GPS technology and use of digital information expands, more and more individuals, corporations, companies, cities, and local units of government find NRCS’ soils and baseline information invaluable for planning. Users can access soil survey information through the internet or use CDs to store and access when needed. NRCS in Illinois continues a progressive commitment to update soil survey data.

FRPP
New contracts: 5 farms
Acres: 703
Cost-share: $2.6 million

Kane County saved more valuable sections of land from development through the Farm and Ranchland Protection Program (FRPP). With this conservation easement program, these highly productive agricultural acres will remain as such. More counties in Illinois still seek revenue sources to mirror Kane County’s success. Visit www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs for more facts FRPP program goals and requirements.

Corn Craze
Millions more acres were planted to corn in 2007 due to high corn prices

NRCS responded to Illinois farmers who planted an additional 1.9 million acres to corn last year and those who switched to continuous corn due to the promise of high corn prices and profits. Management considerations and suggestions on ways to continue to protect soil and water resources while altering crop rotations was the serious message delivered to farmers across the state. “Since we knew many planned to do it, we did what we could to help them do it right,” says IL NRCS State Agronomist Brett Roberts.

Conservation Planning More Critical Than Ever

With a next Farm Bill in the making, now more than ever, it is critical that NRCS clients have an up-to-date and comprehensive conservation plan for their operation. Having the plan does not commit them to practices or programs, but helps identify natural resource problems and opportunities. Having a plan positions private landowners and operators for new and existing NRCS cost-share or incentive programs. Plans provide a strategic way to address problem areas and gives conservationists a plan to follow for years to come. NRCS staff are always available to help Illinois landowners who request a Resource Management Plan (RMS) for their operation.

WRP
Easements: 18 permanent
Acres: 16,736
Financial Assistance: $5 million

A total of 329 acres were created, 1,364 acres were enhanced, and 15,043 acres were restored into wetland habitat during 2007. The Wetland Reserve Program (WRP) also underwent a major overhaul that significantly changed the easement and land appraisal process that determines values and payments. In addition, NRCS put a renewed emphasis on helping Illinois landowners better use WRP for smaller wetland projects. While large wetlands are valued, creating and maintaining numerous small but critical wetlands at locations across the state is critical if wetlands are to fulfill their valuable and necessary function for water storage, water recharge, and diverse wildlife habitat.

New Cost-Share Payment Process for ‘08
Simplify and standardize practice costs and costshare-payments

As the new fiscal year began in October 2007, NRCS unrolled a simplified cost determination and payment making process. This eliminates use of average costs, changing cost-share methods, and fluid cost-share rates. The new process creates program-neutral cost data with payment rates that are based on typical scenarios and costs. It provides a cost basis for program payment rates that is clear, accountable and beyond challenge. NRCS will use the new process for all financial assistance conservation programs including CSP, EQIP and WHIP.

‘07 Successes

NRCS specialists have been busy meeting the demands of Illinois’ conservation-minded landowners. Here’s a snapshot of a few accomplishments...

Bookmark NRCS on your computer--it’s the best place for good advice, good data, and good news!
www.il.nrcs.usda.gov

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The following document is available to download in Adobe Acrobat Reader 7.0 or higher format.

The 2007 Illinois State Report
FY07AnnualRpt.pdf (PDF, 2MB)

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