2008 Illinois State Report

Natural Resources Conservation Activities

November 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!

As I write this, Congress irons out final details of the new Farm Bill, legislatively known as the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008. The proposed language was sent out for public comment and now all the fine-tuning required to administer and deliver funds, products and services of the bill is nearly complete.

Based on the name of the bill, rest assured that the food and nutrition aspects of USDA are secure and generous as always. The fact that our favorite word, “Conservation,” is the 2nd word of the bill’s title means that, yes, our nation’s need for, and commitment to the protection of agriculture and natural resources remain a high priority.

Our funding levels for providing financial assistance to conservation-minded landowners last year were record-breakers. I remember my first year here in Illinois--EQIP was brand new and we had a whopping $3 million to distribute to farmers through our first paper contracts. In 2008, NRCS dedicated $16.2 million in conservation cost-share dollars to put EQIP solutions on the ground in Illinois. In WHIP, our popular but sparsely funded habitat program, 2008 fund levels hovered around $1 million. With crop prices rising and yields at their second highest level in years, I can state with confidence that American-- and Illinois--Agriculture is strong.

As the needs and demands of conservation continue to mount, it is essential that we prudently and efficiently administer these funds and provide our technical assistance. Like every other industry in this global economy, our use and reliance on electronic data increases. With more funds to distribute, it is imperative that the work we do is quality work that adheres to policy and agency standards. More tasks can be done online, but with that speed and convenience comes increased accountability. My NRCS teams are working hard to provide what our customers need and to deliver it in the most cost-effective manner possible. The funds we offer landowners originate from America’s tax payers. Those funds must be used accurately and carefully and for the greater good of our soil and water resources. Our commitment to that promise is stronger than ever.

NRCS welcomes the new Administration and we look forward to all that the new Farm Bill offers Illinois and the nation. We look forward to another year with our conservation partners and friends.

William J. Gradle, State Conservationist

A Diverse, Yet Productive Year

2008 was filled with good news, lots of questions, heavy rains and floods, planting and harvest delays, good yields and crop losses. We learned patience again, waiting for passage of the new Farm Bill, which once again found itself in a precarious position. Even with these obstacles, early reports indicate that corn yields are MUCH higher than expected. NRCS had a successful and productive year as well, with opportunities to offer unprecedented levels of cost-share funds through our portfolio of programs. During 2008, NRCS unveiled the “Conservation. Our Purpose. Our Passion.” campaign, which recognized the tremendous passion that Illinois farmers--and many farmers across our country--have for agriculture and the conservation based life they’ve chosen. Without a genuine love of the land and the natural resources we share with our customers and partners, none of our collective accomplishments would exist. Thank YOU for your passion!

EQIP
New contracts: 1,755
Cost-share: $16.9 Million

This year offered the largest EQIP cost-share funds ever as nearly $16.9 million was awarded to EQIP applicants in Illinois. With strong interest and activity in all three EQIP areas--general conservation, grazing livestock and confined livestock—nearly every IL applicant with a resource problem was able to tap into EQIP funds and NRCS technical assistance for solutions. In 2008, NRCS emphasized implementing forestry management plan contracts established in the last two years. NRCS also focused on developing and implementing 73 Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plans, or CNMPs. With benefits in operational and input cost savings as well as water quality benefits on and off the farm, CNMPs are an option and investment that pays off in many ways. Local Technical Service Providers have helped IL NRCS reach this goal.

WHIP
New contracts: 47
Acres: 7,000
Cost-share: $1.56 Million

Through improvements to upland habitat, restoration of wetland wildlife habitat and rare and declining habitat management, brush management, streambank and shoreline practices, field borders, forest stand improvement, and windbreak establishment, Illinois producers have used WHIP practices to accomplish much in FY08. Extra funds allowed an unprecedented amount of cost-share in this increasingly popular conservation program.

Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Program
Projects: 49
Construction Costs: $650,000

IIllinois experienced two major storm events in 2008, for which the EWP program was authorized in counties declared as federal disaster areas. In March, 10 counties in southern Illinois were affected. June storms created flooding on the east and west sides of the state. Many drainage districts on the west side of the state are only now pumped out enough to see damage, so EWP activities from these events are still ongoing. Primarily, FY08 projects involved sediment and debris removal from channels, stabilization of eroded channel banks, and repair of small agricultural levees. In addition to repair of infrastructure, Illinois NRCS collected information from landowners interested in putting flood-damaged cropland into floodplain easements with NRCS, essentially restoring floodplains to their natural state, to provide future flood protection and wetland wildlife habitat benefits.

CSP
Lower Cache Watershed for 2008; 21 Contracts @ $142,640

The Conservation Security Program (CSP) recognizes and rewards true stewards of the land. CSP identifies the “best of the best” -- conservationists who demonstrate a lasting commitment to soil and water conservation on their land. During 2008, CSP participants were rewarded for commitments to on-farm soil, pest control, nutrients, habitat, and energy management techniques. The area included parts of Union, Johnson, Alexander, Pulaski and Massac Counties.
Under the new Farm Bill, CSP’s name has changed to Conservation Stewardship Program. Plans are to broaden eligibility within all watersheds in all states across the country. More details on how the new CSP will work and who is eligible will be offered later.

RC&D
Created 54 New Local Businesses; Developed 75 New Agritourism Sites

Again in 2008 NRCS Illinois’ 10 authorized RC&D areas remained vigilant in support of mainstream NRCS conservation programs. While recent budget limitations require elimination of RC&D Program Assistant positions, our Coordinator positions hold fast in all Illinois RC&D Councils. RC&Ds continues to support local community needs, economic development, and natural resource protection. A total of 629 jobs were created (non-farm), 7 farms/ranches were certified ‘USDA Organic,” and more than 2.2 million citizens were served/assisted by RC&D efforts. Three Illinois 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. Formation of a new RC&D in northeastern Illinois, Headwaters RC&D, is progressing at a good pace. This area will include Ford, Iroquois, Grundy, Kankakee, Kendall and Will Counties. Stay tuned for more details on this developing RC&D Council!

Soil Survey
804,267 Acres Updated; 11 New Soil View CDs Posted Online

Thirteen county soil survey reports were made available on the web in FY 2008. With these, 100% of Illinois soils mapping data is available digitally and can be accessed online for use with GPS technology tools. More and more engineers, developers, builders, farmers and community officials rely on NRCS soils data to conduct business and manage their workloads. To experience how the national electronic Web Soil Survey works, visit www. websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov.
Nationwide, Illinois maintains the most progressive digital soils database. Visit ww.soils.usda.gov for a list of NRCS soils products.

FRPP
Projects: 4
Farm Acres: 392
Construction Costs: $1.79 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 goals and requirements.

Rapid Watershed Assessments (RWAs)
Six RWA Reports Developed in 2008

This was the first year we applied for special funds to develop a number of Rapid Watershed Assessments, or RWAs. RWA Reports contain digitally generated maps, data, and trends that profile the natural resources, land use trends, development activities and other natural- and community-based information needed to evaluate, diagnose and prescribe needed conservation practices and solutions within a defined watershed area. The reports can be used
as a tool for locally led or state-initiated planning or restoration projects and get motivated teams off to a good start in their research and work. Watersheds profiled during FY 2008 included Macoupin Creek, Green River, Shoal Creek, Upper Kaskaskia, Saline River and Vermilion River. By combining the tools, programs and knowledge of a number of NRCS specialists, the RWA Team produced six complete reports in a short timeframe. All reports are posted online and can be viewed at www.il.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/rwa/index.html

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: 16 permanent
Acres: 1,942
Financial Assistance: $1.4 Million

Using WRP and a host of other USDA conservation programs, Illinois landowners created 220 new wetland acres, enhanced 2,659 acres, and restored 9,622 acres into wetland habitat during 2008. WRP also underwent a major overhaul to significantly simplify the easement and land appraisal process that determines values and payments. In addition, NRCS placed a renewed emphasis on helping Illinois landowners better use WRP for smaller wetland projects. While large wetlands are valued, maintaining numerous small but quality wetlands at locations across the state is critical if wetlands are to fulfill their valuable and necessary functions.

Invite NRCS Out To Have a Look Around!

While details of NRCS’ Farm Bill programs are not yet set in motion, this does not mean Illinois’ private landowners are in limbo or in a ‘wait-and-see’ holding pattern. Right now is the perfect time for producers to evaluate their operation, check out existing conservation practices and look at areas that need a change or a little work in order to be more productive or better protected against erosion by water or wind. Now is the time to think strategically about farming operations and make long-term plans to ensure soil quality, reduce input costs, improve energy efficiency, and keep your farm sustainable. Give your local NRCS District Conservationist a call. Set up an appointment. NRCS technical specialists will come out and walk the land with you, use NRCS’ online and digital tools to help devise a plan that works. That’s how NRCS helps people help the land--every day.

‘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 2008 Illinois State Report
FY08 Annual Report.pdf (PDF, 1.4MB)

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