2010 Illinois State Report

Natural Resources Conservation Activities

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!

2010 was another year that dealt us many challenges. We gained a number of new program initiatives and with them, adopted a new slough of acronyms--MRBI, CCPI, CIG, RPF, WREP, and GLRI--try using all those in a sentence without cracking a smile. Even so, new initiatives offer new ways to get NRCS conservation practices on the ground. More options for our clients and partners is always a good thing, although the administrative work that comes with it isn’t always easy.

2010 was another difficult year for our partners at IDA and all the SWCDs, who still compete for limited state funds just to cover salaries and basic operating costs. During 2010 many SWCD staff members made the difficult decision to leave employment with their uncertain and unstable Districts. A number of those conservationists found a new home with us at NRCS and for that I am relieved. They will continue to improve the natural resources we cherish.

I am happy to say that for the most part, although many Illinois businesses and industries still struggle with the dismal economic outlook, agriculture operations have remained fairly stable. That’s the nice thing about having a career/livelihood securely tied to actual, tangible products and services that people really need, versus a livelihood linked to luxuries, perks, or fad/trends. Humans like to eat regularly; people who grow food or make food or serve food tend to stay in demand—even when economic times are hard. Because successful conservation is unquestionably connected to agriculture and ag productivity, I’d like to think that NRCS falls into that category as well. As a proven and voluntary ‘helper’ of Illinois producers and stewards of the land, I believe USDA and NRCS are considered essential.

During 2010, funds available for key programs like EQIP stayed strong—more than $12 million. EQIP even expanded in areas including forestry, organic production, and new targeted and intensified opportunities within the Mississippi River Basin. Interest in and funding for CSP maintained strong as well. With so many Illinois producers who successfully used SCS/NRCS programs and practices in previous years, CSP accomplished its intended purpose. It rewarded conservation farmers for their wise choices AND it engaged them even further in establishing new on-the-ground solutions that benefit our state’s resource base. That’s a win-win for our state, the people on the land, and our nation as a whole.

Special 2009 funds made available through America’s Recovery & Reinvestment Act (ARRA) were put to good use last year in eight Illinois counties. $5 million worth of floodplain easement improvements were built and will be seeded and completed with spring’s thaw. These project sites will restore healthy floodplain functionality and have tremendous benefits throughout Illinois. Yes, 2010 was a busy year for us, our partners, and our clients. 2011 promises even more. As our economy gains strength, our commitment to Illinois soil and water resources stands firm. Working for a productive nation and a healthy landscape, I wholeheartedly thank all of you for all you’ve accomplished and all we will do together in this coming year and beyond.

—Bill Gradle, IL NRCS State Conservationist

Agriculture & Conservation Stay Strong

Though 2010, NRCS programs and funding were fully utilized; the need for continued support with conservation on private lands remained a priority. Most aspects of NRCS program options remained the same, however, new avenues, new practices, and new funding sources were made available. The American Reinvestment and Recovery Act presented new ways to restore flooded lands and both USDA and NRCS embraced the contributions and activities of smaller growers, locally grown food initiatives, invited more partner involvement, and sought out new, innovative conservation strategies.
 

EQIP
New Contracts: 900+
Cost-share: $ 11.3 Million

This year, Illinois EQIP cost-share funds totaled more than $11.3 million, awarded to applicants through more than 900 contracts. Strong interest and activity was seen in all three EQIP areas--general conservation, grazing livestock and confined livestock. Nearly every Illinois applicant with a resource problem was able to tap into EQIP funds and NRCS technical assistance for solutions. EQIP assistance and funds were made available to organic producers; however, initial interest in this new program option has been slow to form--only 4 such contracts were funded for $21,000.

NRCS funded 117 Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plans, or CNMPs, updated fencing standards, encouraged grazing management, and investigated new livestock mortality management tools.

WRP
New Geographical Rate Caps (GARCs)
$8 Million for Easements in Illinois

New Geographic Area Rate Caps simplified and sped up Wetland Reserve Program activity. During 2010, 17 new WRP easements were secured for $8 million, including those in the Wetland Reserve Enhancement Program, or WREP. Flooding problems required NRCS use of WREP to quickly respond to needs of Illinois private landowners.

Policy changes from 2009 requiring land ownership for a 7-year period still impacted 2010 sign-ups and beyond. Newly established rate caps distinguish land value differences for cropland and non-cropland. See map at right to verify values and confirm county and regional differences.
 

Floodplain Easement
FY10 Projects: 1,615 acres
Funding: $5 million

USDA-NRCS completed all planning, design and construction work on a number of Floodplain Easement projects during 2010. Many sites will be seeded for proper vegetative cover this spring. This program was part of the Administration’s American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA). In Illinois more than $5 million restored nearly 1,615 acres on 11 Illinois sites.

All project sites are restored permanently as functional wetlands that hold floodwaters, protect crops further inland, filter out pollutants, and create quality wildlife habitats. The ultimate outcomes for FPE and WRP benefit more than just the landowner. All residents and inhabitants of the local watershed benefit from reduced soil erosion, crop loss, and water quality degradation when valuable habitat is restored. It’s a win-win for the owner, the public, and the environment!
 

CSP
Continuous Sign-up & Statewide;
542 contracts; $8.7 Million per yr for 5 yrs.

The Conservation Stewardship Program continues to find new program participants, or rather, new applicants continue to find CSP! Because so many conservation-minded landowners in Illinois have a history of protecting soil and water, CSP is a good fit. CSP applicants document all they’ve done, continue maintenance of practices or management techniques, and agree to put even more conservation on their operation.

For CSP clients, qualifying for the program and documenting achievements is easy because for most, it’s their standard approach to farming. Finding a new conservation solution to take on is never hard --they’re always looking for new ways to save fuel, time, or money and create better wildlife habitat.

For 2010, 542 CSP contracts were developed on 402,697 acres statewide. Nationwide, more than 12 million acres were enrolled on cropland, pasture and range land, and non-industrial private forestland.
 

Mississippi River Basin Initiative
Focuses on 8-digit or smaller watersheds

The MRBI offered a new way to engage voluntary conservation activity for projects in priority watersheds in Illinois and 11 key states. This initiative targets improving water quality and managing nutrients to improve the health of the Mississippi River. Through MRBI, participants can use programs with EQIP, WREP, CCPI or CIG.

NRCS accepted applications from 4 watersheds:
- Lower Illinois-Senachwine Lake
- Upper Illinois
- Vermilion River (Upper Mississippi River sub-basin)
- Vermilion (Upper Ohio River sub-basin)

Key to this effort is emphasis on monitoring data to track and quantify positive program outcomes and benefits. These projects will require some time for planning, installation, use, and results. NRCS expects positive results for this valuable investment.

Soil Survey
Cook Co. Soil Survey & Rapid Carbon Begins!

The extensive update of Cook County’s Soil Survey finished its second field season. The project is 60% complete with 180,000 acres mapped. The project is on target to be complete by June 30, 2011 as our agreement with Cook County dictates. The City is eager to have our data to initiate better storm water management planning.

The Rapid Carbon Assessment is underway and is the top priority for our Springfield and Carbondale MLRA offices. Illinois has 148 carbon sites to sample; 42 sites (30%) were completed in 2010. Remaining sites will be finished before the end of FY2011.

Illinois soils information is 100% digitally available. We continue to update our spatial and tabular data. For the latest soil survey data, visit the Web Soil Survey: http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/app/HomePage.htm

WHIP
$208,000 financial assistance; 17 contracts

Program funds for the Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program in Illinois remain low. During 2010, we received 17 applications and developed all 17 contracts to restore and enhance habitat on many acres. WHIP is not the only program that supports wildlife habitat, however, with such limited funds, most Illinois landowners use funds and assistance from a number of other environmental organizations, including Pheasants Forever, Ducks Unlimited, The Nature Conservancy, Quail Unlimited, the National Wild turkey Federation, and others.

GRP
$819,000 in 5 contracts for 422 acres in Illinois

For the Grass Land Reserve Program, NRCS obligated approximately $819,000 on 2 rental agreements, and 3 permanent easements.


 

Know Your DIRT!

On the national front, USDA and NRCS are keeping up with the times and now have conservation information available on You Tube, Twitter and other electronic and digital avenues. Here in Illinois, we teamed up with the Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts, the Illinois Department of Agriculture, and Illinois EPA to create a short video on the importance of soil. Narrated by a real NRCS soil scientist, it offers a fun ‘crash course’ that summarizes why “dirt” is so important to all of us. View the video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxUtkVaJXrk. Remember, DIRT definitely does more than get your dirty!

RC&D
Created 45 New Local Businesses; 34 Expanded; 54 Retained

In 2010, NRCS Illinois’ 10 authorized RC&D areas remained vigilant in support of mainstream NRCS conservation programs. The RC&D program assisted more than one million citizens:

Created 222 new jobs; 122 seasonal jobs
Organized 57 agriculture workshops
Organized 31 forestry workshops
Coordinated 20 wildlife workshops
Created 3 new recreational facilities
Protected 2,368 acres of fish & wildlife habitat
Held 142 community events
Sponsored 45 Leadership Development training sessions
Developed 23 Area-wide conservation plans on 3.6 million acres

The RC&D program objectives focus on “quality of life” improvements achieved through natural resource conservation and community development.
 

FRPP
No FRPP activity in 2010.
2011 -- Who will step up to preserve Illinois ag land??

If protecting and preserving agriculture in your developing communities is a resource concern, the FRPP may be a way to solve the problem--long-term. To learn more, visit http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/programs/farmbill 

For FY 2011, NRCS received $1.3 million for FRPP in Illinois. This program requires a local sponsor and matching funds. To keep these funds in Illinois and to protect our rural agriculture landscape, county and community level governments need to join forces and take action today!

2010 Successes

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

USDA-NRCS is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

The following document is available to download in Adobe Acrobat Reader 8.0 or higher format.

The 2009 Illinois State Report
FY10 Annual Report.pdf (PDF, 813kb)

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