On Saturday July 17th on a steamy hot day at the Oak Park Farmer’s Market, Governor Quinn signed into law two important pieces of local food legislation that will help expand access to healthy fresh locally grown food for the most vulnerable members of our community. Amongst an enthusiastic crowd of people at the Oak Park Farmer’s Market, Governor Pat Quinn singed in to law SB 615 and HB 4756. HB 4756 the Farmers’ Market Technology Improvement act will expand the use of LINK card terminals at farmers markets across the state allowing those who receive food stamps to use their Illinois issued LINK cards to purchase fresh fruits, vegetable and meats at farmers markets across Illinois.  HB 4756 is a win-win for both consumers receiving food stamps and farmers vending at farmers’ markets in Illinois. SB 615 the Farm-to-school database program will create a database of schools looking to purchase fresh locally grown fruits and vegetables and local farmers who can provide locally grown fruits in vegetables to schools. The database created by SB 615 will help to create relationship and facilitate purchasing between schools that want to buy fresh local food and the farmers who grow.

From our friends at Familyfarmed.org:

Looking for local food in Central Illinois?  Are you interested in buying grass-fed beef, organic eggs or attending a Local Flavors meal? Find it all and more in an area Buy Fresh Buy Local Central Illinois directory.  Two directories have been published, one for the Bloomington-Normal area and one for the Springfield area.  Thanks to our partners at the Heartland Local Food Network for their great work on the Bloomington-Normal directory!

Friday July 9
Reception and Concert
Local Food, Art sale, Live Music by Singer/songwriter Ann Zimmerman
This will be an evening of good food and good music with good friends.  The theme is “Home on the Prairie”.  The reception will feature organic food from Central Illinois farms.  For more information, go to www.agwatershed.org.

Saturday July 10
Local Bioenergy Workshop
The Agricultural Watershed Institute invites you to attend the LOCAL BIOENERGY WORKSHOP at the Decatur Civic Center on Saturday, July 10.  This workshop is for farmers, landowners, and everyone interested in growing or using perennial grasses for biomass energy and conservation.  U of I Extension is a cosponsor.
Speakers and exhibitors will provide practical information about cellulosic energy crops from field to furnace, including a live demonstration of making grass pellets. Workshop sessions will also address market development and incentive programs for biomass energy. Participants are invited to tour local energy grass plots after the workshop.
While the workshop is designed to be "practical", rather than academic or "wonky", we extend a special invitation to environmental and agricultural scientists, agencies, and NGOs.  The emphasis on prairie polycultures and the conservation benefits of small-scale feedstock production presents opportunities for interdisciplinary research on synergies and trade-offs between biomass energy and ecosystem health.  The early adopter farmers and green energy entrepreneurs attending this workshop may be excellent cooperators for your research or demonstration projects.  We hope you can attend and help to shape an ecologically-sound, sustainable bioeconomy.
The workshop agenda is attached.  For online registration, go to http://extension.illinois.edu/go/bioenergy 
For an informational brochure about this event, click here.

On June 3rd, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that USDA published the final regulations governing the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP). Authorized in the 2008 Farm Bill, CSP is a voluntary program that offers payments to producers who exercise good land stewardship and want to improve their conservation performance.

Vilsack also announced that the enrollment period for CSP's second year, which is currently open, has been extended an additional two weeks, now closing June 25, 2010.

Administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), CSP is available to all producers regardless of operation size, crops produced, or geographic location. Eligible lands include cropland, pastureland, rangeland, non-industrial private forest land, and agricultural land under the jurisdiction of an Indian tribe. Under the final rule published today and effective immediately, the program retains the broad features outlined in the interim final rule, including:

• CSP pays participants for conservation performance – the higher the performance, the higher the payment.
• Producers get credit both for conservation measures they have already implemented and for new measures they agree to add.
• CSP is offered in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the Pacific and Caribbean areas through continuous sign-up, with announced cut-off dates for ranking and funding applications.

The experience gained during the program's first year, and comments received from partners and the public during the 90-day public comment period, have contributed to a number of important changes in the program rules. The program's new features include the following:

• Higher payment rate for additional conservation performance. USDA is implementing a split payment structure, with one payment rate for existing conservation activities and a higher payment rate for new activities. This is expected to encourage producers to apply more new activities and thereby generate greater environmental benefits.
• Higher payment limit. The total contract limitation for joint operations is increased from $200,000 to $400,000, with annual payment limits increased from $40,000 to $80,000 to fairly compensate joint operations that produce environmental benefit levels needed to earn the payments.
• New minimum payment. To directly encourage participation by small-scale, historically underserved producers, the rule establishes a minimum payment of $1,000.
• Pastured cropland. "Pastured cropland" is added as a new designation with a higher payment than "pastureland" because of the greater income foregone by producers who maintain a grass-based livestock production system on land suitable for cropping.
• Enhancements. Some conservation enhancements work better when implemented as a system and under the new rule are offered as enhancement "bundles." Participants who implement such comprehensive bundles get higher rankings and higher payments.
• Resource-conserving crop rotation. In response to extensive public comment, the definition of "resource-conserving crop rotation" is revised to require the use of grass and/or legumes. Since resource-conserving crops receive supplemental payments under CSP, the rule change ensures that the crops provide a sufficient level of environmental benefit.

Other changes in the regulation give producers greater flexibility in establishing their eligibility to apply for CSP and in certifying their control of the land.

Potential applicants are encouraged to use the CSP self-screening checklist to determine whether CSP is suitable for their operation and apply prior to the closing date of June 25, 2010, when applications will be scored, ranked, and funded. The checklist, which highlights basic information about CSP eligibility requirements, contract obligations, and payments, and additional information about CSP, may be obtained from the national CSP Web site ( www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/new_csp/csp.html) or individual state NRCS offices ( www.nrcs.usda.gov/about/organization/regions.html).

USDA published the CSP interim final rule on July 29, 2009, and solicited comment through October 28, 2009. Initially scheduled to end on September 28, 2009, the comment period was extended to encourage comments throughout the program's first enrollment period. NRCS received 1,534 comments and reviewed and considered each one. Responses to the comments are incorporated in the final rule released today. The final rule can be viewed at: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-12699.pdf

Vermillion County farm showcases benefits of the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP)

The Green family farm in Fithian, Illinois has been in production for almost 120 years.  They manage 800 acres of no-till corn and soybeans, forests, prairies, and wetlands located in scenic Vermilion County and have been protecting their natural resources for generations. A Conservation Farm Tour will be held at 10 AM on June 2, 2010 to showcase Green’s operation and discuss CSP details with interested private landowners and producers.

Owner, Kevin Green has participated in conservation programs for many years. He manages his wildlife and wetlands through USDA’s Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program (WHIP) and Conservation Reserve Program (CRP).  He also participates in the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Rural Forest Landowner Assistance Program that offers cost-share and assistance to manage forest land, and works with numerous other programs that assist with soil and water management activities on his operation.

According to Kevin Green, “Managing my natural resources is a top priority. I also serve on the local Soil and Water Conservation District board and I am the past chair of the local Pheasants Forever chapter.” With so many conservation practices in place on his farm, Kevin was happy when the NRCS’ Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) came out in 2009. 

Devin Brown, Conservation Policy Advocate with the Illinois Stewardship Alliance says “CSP is designed for landowners who have a history of managing their soil and water resources with grassed waterways, filter strips, and hedgerows and who want to do even more.”

“Kevin is an extremely conservation-minded individual and a motivated producer.  He has many valuable conservation practices in place on his land and participates in numerous conservation programs.  CSP is a perfect fit for Kevin,” says Glen Franke, NRCS District Conservationist for Vermilion County.

The Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), administered by USDA NRCS, is a voluntary conservation program designed to encourage agricultural and forestry producers to adopt additional conservation practices and improve, maintain and manage existing ones.  Eligible lands include cropland, grassland, prairie, improved pastureland, rangeland, non-industrial private forestland, and agricultural land.

Remarking on the benefits of CSP, Green said, “Using CSP has allowed me to develop new grassed waterways, windbreaks, and riparian field borders.”

NRCS, in cooperation with the Illinois Stewardship Alliance, will sponsor a Conservation Farm Tour at the Green family farm on Wednesday, June 2, 2010 from 10:00 am until 1:00 pm.  The tour will consist of:

- A tour Kevin Green’s beautiful farm, highlighting conservation practices

- A light lunch with refreshments

- A discussion of the Conservation Stewardship Program’s incentives, eligibility requirements, and conservation benefits

The Green Family Farm’s address is 17938 N 680 E Road, Fithian, IL 61844

Directions: from I-74, take exit 206 toward Oakwood.  Turn right on Newton Rd for ½ mile. Turn left on 1800 North for 2 miles. Turn right on 680 East. Take the first driveway on the right.

According to Franke, “Many landowners in Vermilion County—and within our whole region--could benefit from CSP.  Farmers who practice conservation tillage, have grassed waterways to control erosion where they are needed, filter strips to protect streams or other water bodies on their farms, and manage their nutrients should apply.”

The Conservation Stewardship Program is now available statewide through continuous enrollment with announced cut-off application dates for ranking periods.  The next ranking cut-off for 2010 sign-up is June 11, 2010.  To learn if CSP is right for your operation, join us at Kevin Green’s Farm, visit http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/new_csp/csp.html, or call your local NRCS office.

Illinois Stewardship Alliance is a statewide membership that promotes ecologically sustainable, economically viable, socially just local food systems through policy development, advocacy and education

NRCS: Helping People Help The Land. USDA NRCS is an equal opportunity employer and provider.

Meeting on Thursday, June 3 on the benefits of the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP)

Southern Illinois farmers, ranchers, and wood lot owners are invited to an informational meeting on Thursday, June 3 on the Conservation Stewardship Program.  The meeting will be held at the City of Harrisburg, Pruett Building, 107 East Church Street in downtown Harrisburg from 11:00 to 1:00.  Lunch and refreshments will be provided.

The Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), administered by USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), is a voluntary conservation program designed to encourage agricultural and forestry producers to adopt additional conservation practices and improve, maintain and manage existing ones.  Eligible lands include cropland, grassland, prairie, improved pastureland, rangeland, non-industrial private forestland, and agricultural land.

Producers who enroll and are accepted receive a 5 year CSP contract with a payment cap of $200,000.   In 2009 Illinois had 175,298 acres enrolled in CSP, which totaled over $4 million in payments to farmers, ranchers, and forest owners.  However, few Southern Illinois Counties showed much interest in the program.

“A lot of farms in Southern Illinois are diverse.” says Devin Brown, Conservation Policy Advocate with the Illinois Stewardship Alliance.  “Many of these farms have some forest, some pasture, some crop land, and most already manage their land for erosion, water quality, and nutrients.  Because CSP includes so many conservation practices and land uses, it could really work well for farmers down in this part of the state.”

“I manage my forests for health, productivity, and wildlife habitat.” says Josh Brown of Jackson County who received a 2009 CSP contract.  “CSP payments help with the cost of invasive species control, timber stand improvement, and erosion control.”

“CSP encourages enhanced conservation, but also rewards landowners with a history of land stewardship.” says Troy Daniell, NRCS Assistant State Conservationist for Southern Illinois.  “It promotes sustainable agricultural ecosystems by improving water quality, air quality, and energy conservation.” 

Commenting on CSP sign-up, Robert Mount of Johnson County says “I have forest, crop land, and hay land enrolled in CSP.  The sign-up went pretty smooth.  As long as you keep good records, it is straight forward.”

The Conservation Stewardship Program is now available statewide through continuous enrollment with announced cut-off application dates for ranking periods.  The next ranking cut-off for 2010 sign-up is June 11, 2010.  To learn if CSP is right for your operation, come to the informational meeting June 3rd, visit http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/new_csp/csp.html, or call your local NRCS office.

Illinois Stewardship Alliance is a statewide membership that promotes ecologically sustainable, economically viable, socially just local food systems through policy development, advocacy and education

                                                                                                                                                             NRCS: Helping People Help The Land. USDA NRCS is an equal opportunity employer and provider.

Farmers, ranchers, and forest owners throughout Illinois can now apply for the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) and receive payments to maintain and develop conservation practices on their land.

CSP is an innovative conservation program that rewards agricultural producers for the conservation that they already have in place, and provides funding to do more.  Producers who get into the program receive a 5 year contract with a payment cap of $200,000. In 2009 Illinois had 175,298 acres enrolled in CSP, which totaled over 4 million in payments to farmers, ranchers, and forest owners. Interested producers must submit an application to their local Natural Resources Conservation Service office by June 11, 2009 to be considered for this year’s ranking period.

 “I manage my forests to maximize their health and productivity” Says Josh Brown of Jackson County who received a 2009 CSP contract.  “CSP payments help with the cost of invasive species control, timber stand improvement, and erosion control.” 

CSP is available for all working agricultural land, whether its cropland (corn, soybeans, small grains, hay, fruits and vegetables), pasture, rangeland, or managed woodlot. 

Kevin Green, a farmer of 800 acres of corn and soybeans in Vermilion County says, “We been doing conservation, such as grassed waterways, riparian buffers, wind breaks, wetlands, and no-till beans on our farm for years.  When I signed up for CSP in 2009 I started receiving payments for the conservation practices already in place and for those we plan to start.”

“CSP rewards farmers who are good conservationists.  It helps offset the costs of expensive conservation activities that enhance soil, air, and water quality.  It directly pays farmers that promote wildlife habitat, conserve energy, and mitigate climate change” says Devin Brown, Conservation Policy Advocate at the Illinois Stewardship Alliance. 

CSP doesn’t fit everyone’s operation.  According to Ivan Dozier, Assistant State Conservationist with Illinois NRCS, “Interested farmers should complete the Producer Self-Screening Checklist to assess their eligibility for the program, which will help producers determine if the program is right for them.” 

To download the Producer Self-Screening Checklist at the NRCS website, click here, or pick it up at your local NRCS office

By Kathryn Rem, State Journal-Register Food Editor

As you shop for groceries, prepare your meals, dine at restaurants, and otherwise interact with the food system in the Springfield area, there is something fairly quiet going on that you may not be aware of.

The Farmers' Market Technology Improvement Act (HB 4756) - Passed the House by a vote of 110-2, the chief sponsor was Representative LaShawn K. Ford. HB 4756 passed the Senate by a vote of 48-5; the chief sponsor was Senator Toi Hutchinson. HB 4756 will create a program that offers financial support to farmers' markets and other non-traditional food markets to implement the necessary infrastructure for recipients of federal food stamps to use their Illinois issued LINK cards. HB 4756 will help low income individuals and families gain access to fresh healthy locally grown and produced foods; as well as creating expanded markets for local producers in Illinois. Next stop is the Governor's Desk! To see how your legislators voted, click here. To read the full text of the final bill, click here.

The Farm-to-School Electronic Database (SB 615) - Passed the Senate by a vote of 39-16, the chief sponsor was Senator Linda Holmes. SB 615 passed the House by a vote of 73-41; the chief sponsor was Representative LaShawn K. Ford. SB 615 helps facilitate the purchase of fresh, healthy and locally grown food by schools through the creation of an online geo-coded electronic database of producers and schools interested in fresh health locally produced food. The database will be developed jointly by the Illinois Department of Agriculture and the Illinois Local Food, Farms and Jobs Council. To see how your legislators voted, click here. To read the full text of the final bill, click here.

Small Scale Honey Production Exemption (SB 2959)- Sponsored by Senator David Luechtefeld and Representative Dan Reitz, SB 2959 has passed both chambers of the General assembly and will soon be sent to the Governor's desk for approval. SB 2959 amends the applicable laws to recognize raw honey as an agricultural commodity and not a processed food. SB 2959 will ease overly onerous regulations on small scale and hobby beekeepers who wish to sell their honey direct to consumers. SB 2959 passed the Senate by a vote of 50-2 and passed the House by a vote of 112-0. To see how your legislators voted on the bill, click here. To read the full text of the final bill, click here.

The Farmers' Market Taskforce (HJR 57) - Sponsored by Representative Bill Black in the House and by Senator Michael Frerichs in the Senate has been adopted by both the House and the Senate, HJR 57 now sits on the calendar order of concurrence. There was an amendment in the Senate to change the final date for the taskforce report that was simple and routine, as soon as it has been approved by the House it will be sent to the Governor's desk for final approval. HJR 57 was introduced in response to a series of incidences that have sprung up regarding inconsistent interpretation of the laws regulating what can and can't be sold at farmers' markets. HJR 57 creates a taskforce to review the implementation of acts that define which products and practices are permitted and which products and practices are not permitted at farmers' markets and other outdoor food sale events. To see how your legislators voted, click here. To read the full text of the final resolution, click here.

Chemical Drift Specialty Crop Farm Registry (SJR 105) - Sponsored by Senator David Koehler and Representative Don Moffet, SJR 105 announces the creation geographic information system (GIS) website registry for organic and specialty crop farms. The website will be used to help conventional farmers and chemical applicators avoid damaging sensitive crops. The address of the website is www.driftwatch.org. It is still in the development phase at the moment, but officials from the Illinois Department of Agriculture and the agrichemical industry are hopeful that it will be fully operational by the 2011 growing season. SJR 105 was introduced following an Illinois Senate Agriculture & Conservation Committee subject matter hearing on the extent and impact of chemical drift from the aerial application of pesticides that occurred in the fall of 2009. SJR 105 was adopted by the Senate by a vote of 53-2 and is now in the House rules committee. To read the full text of the resolution, click here.

Fresh Food Fund Task Force (SJR 72)- Sponsored by Senator Jacqueline Collins and Representative Will Davis, has passed the Senate and is currently in the House Human Services Committee. SJR 72 urges the creation of a Task Force to create a legislative and funding climate to stimulate "supermarket" development across Illinois especially in food deserts. Currently there is an effort to get language included in the resolution to ensure that non-traditional markets are not excluded. To read the full text of the resolution, click here.