FEDERAL POLICY ISSUES

Value-Added Producer Grants

Program Basics

The Value-Added Producer Grants (VAPG) program provides competitive grants to individual independent agricultural producers, groups of independent producers, producer-controlled entities, organizations representing agricultural producers, and farmer or rancher cooperatives to create or develop value-added producer-owned businesses.

• Develop business plans and feasibility studies (including marketing plans or other planning activities) needed to establish viable marketing opportunities for value-added products; or
• Acquire working capital to operate a value-added business venture or alliance. Working capital applications generally must be supported by an independent feasibility study as well as a business plan.

Grant funds may not be used for repair, acquisition, or construction of a building or facility or to purchase, rent or install fixed equipment. Cash and/or in-kind matching funds are required, must be at least equal to the amount of Federal funds awarded, and must be expended in advance, such that for each grant dollar advanced, an equal amount of match shall have been expended first.

USDA Contact Information and Online Resources

USDA website for the VAPG Program: www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/coops/vadg.htm.  An online assessment tool is available at www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/coops/vapgea.htm that will assist you in determining whether or not you are eligible to apply for a VAPG grant.

Matt Harris, Business Cooperative Specialist, Illinois USDA Rural Development, Matthew.Harris@il.usda.gov, 217-403-6211

 Conservation Stewardship Program

• Read a Profile of a CSP Farmer
• Rewards Existing Conservation
• Rewards New Conservation
• Continuous Sign-up
• Includes Owned or Rented Land
• For Working Land
• Program Funding
• How do Farmers Apply?
• For any CSP related questions contact:

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) launched the new
Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) on August 10, 2009. CSP provides payments
to agricultural producers for conservation practices that reduce soil erosion, improve soil
fertility, conserve energy, enhance wildlife and pollinator habitat, and improve water
quality.
                                                      What’s Unique about CSP
Rewards Existing Conservation
The new CSP provides incentive payments to agricultural producers for conservation
practices that are already in place on the farm. With other USDA conservation programs,
such as EQIP (Environmental Quality Incentives Program), farmers only receive
payments for additional conservation activities, not those in already in place. Farmers
that have been doing good conservation on their working land for years, but haven’t
qualified for other programs, now can be rewarded for their dedicated land stewardship.
Not only do farmers receive a higher payment for existing conservation, but CSP assists
with the expensive maintenance of these activities.
Rewards New Conservation
New conservation practices on the farm are expensive and often have a long payback
period. There are over 70 difference activities that are rewarded under CSP, and farmers
can choose new conservation activities that they would like to implement over the 5 year
CSP contract on their farm. To access the CSP activity list click here.
Continuous Sign-up
Unlike other programs that have a short sign-up period, once a year, CSP now has a
continuous sign-up, which allows farmers to enroll in the program at any time throughout
the year. There will be periodic cut-off dates for ranking applicants, but if a farmer
misses a ranking period, they will be automatically entered into the next ranking period.
Statewide Enrollment
Unlike the old CSP, the Conservation Security Program of 2004, the new CSP doesn’t
prioritize select watersheds. All working, agricultural land throughout Illinois is eligible.
Includes Owned or Rented Land
CSP contracts are for 5 years and include the whole farm operation, whether it’s owned
or rented. If cash rented, proof that the land will be farmed by the farm operator during
the contract period is required. If the rented land cannot be secured for the entire contract
period, that does not disqualify the whole farm operation. Only that piece of land will not
be included in the contracted acreage.
For Working Land
CSP only includes working land that is in production. Land that has been fallow or out of
production for the past two years is not eligible. Eligible lands include cropland,
grassland, prairie, improved pastureland, rangeland, non-industrial private forestland - a
new land use for the program - and agricultural land. CSP does not prevent farmers or
ranchers from receiving other farm program payments, although lands currently enrolled
in the Conservation Reserve Program, Grassland Reserve Program, Wetlands Reserve
Program, or the old Conservation Security Program are ineligible for the program until
those existing program contracts conclude.
Program Funding
Successful farmers will receive five-year contracts and up to $200,000 in benefits over
the five year contract period for each farm. CSP has $12 billion over the next 10 years,
allowing an estimated 13 million acres to be enrolled nationwide every year.
How do Farmers Apply?
The first ranking period cut-off will be September 30, 2009. The first step to enrolling in
CSP is to determine your eligibility. Click here for a Producer Self-Screening Checklist.
If you think that CSP may be right for you, contact your local NRCS district office. For a
list of NRCS service centers in Illinois, click here. For a CSP Application, click here.
Visit the USDA NRCS CSP site here for complete program details.
For any CSP related questions contact:
Devin Brown
Conservation Policy Advocate
devin@ilstewards.org
618-771-0237

Buy Fresh Buy Local (BFBL), is a local foods’ campaign to encourage the community to support localfarmers. This includes everyone from individual consumers to larger buyers, including restaurants and grocery stores. Through the BFBL campaign’s marketing materials (such as the logo above), consumers can identify locally produced foods and farmers can reach new local markets.
Remember to look for BFBL signage and tell your retailer or restaurant that you care where your food comes from. 

If you are a grower, producer, retailer, restaurant or other Central Illinois institution specializing in or utilizing
locally-produced foods and are interested in becoming a member of BFBL Central Illinois for the 2011-2012 season, be sure to check back for information and an online application in early 2011.

Also this year, BFBL Central Illinois will hold its third annual “Local Flavors” restaurant series in both chapter areas. Over the last two years, Springfield-area restaurants have participated in hosting lunches and dinners featuring seasonal specials with locally produced and grown foods. 

Buy Fresh Buy Local Central Illinois is a project of the Illinois Stewardship Alliance, in partnership with the Heartland Local Food Network. The Heartland Local Food Network is a nonprofit membership organization focused on promoting a "vibrant community and personal well-being" through public outreach, community partnerships and policy education for a food system that is sustainable, accessible and local.


If you have any questions or concerns about Buy Fresh Buy Local Central Illinois or “Local Flavors," please call the Illinois Stewardship Alliance at (217) 528-1563 or email isa@ilstewards.org.

2010-2011 Buy Fresh Buy Local Central Illinois Directories 

 Springfield Area Directory

Bloomington-Normal Area Directory

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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.

This Friday \"celebration\" is open to all local food supporters.  It will include a prairie-themed reception and concert.  The reception will be catered by 5 Flavors.  Attendees will be able to sample local food from Blue Moon, Prairie Fruits, Triple S, and Veenstra\'s Vegetables.

2010 Local Flavors events will take place in Springfield and Bloomington-Normal.  To be added to a mailing list to receive menu announcements please e-mail isa@ilstewards.org and indicate Springfield or Bloomington-Normal.

2010 Dates for Local Flavors:

Springfield

Lunches:
May 18—Maldaner’s Restaurant
June 1—Augie’s Front Burner
June 15—Trout Lily Café
July 6—Holy Land Diner
July 20—Caitie Girl’s Restaurant
Aug. 5—Holy Land Diner
Aug. 17—Augie’s Front Burner
Sept. 7—Incredibly Delicious
Sept. 21—Inn at 835
Oct. 5—Incredibly Delicious
Oct. 19—Maldaner’s Restaurant
Nov. 2—Trout Lily Café

Dinners:
May 20—Augie’s Front Burner
June 3—Caitie Girl’s Restaurant
June 17—Augie’s Front Burner
July 8—Sebastian’s Hideout
July 22—Pasfield House Inn
Aug. 5—Ross Isaac
Aug. 19—Caitie Girl’s Restaurant
Sept. 9—Maldaner’s Restaurant
Sept. 23—Sebastian’s Hideout
Oct. 7—Ross Isaac
Oct. 21—Pasfield House Inn
Nov. 4—Maldaner’s Restaurant

Augie's Front Burner: (217) 544-6979

Caitie Girl's Restaurant: (217) 528-1294

Holy Land Diner: (217) 544-5786

Incredibly Delicious: (217) 528-8548

Inn at 835: (217) 523-4466

Maldaner's Restaurant: (217) 522-4313

Pasfield House Inn: (217) 525-3663

Ross Isaac: (217) 744-7677

Senastian's Hideout: (217) 789-8988

Trout Lily Cafe: (217) 391-0101

Bloomington/Normal

Friday, May 28 - Kelly’s Bakery & Café
Tuesday, June 22 – Medici
Thursday, June 24 – Rosie’s Pub** This event is currently being rescheduled. Check back for further information.
Saturday, June 26 – Kelly’s Bakery & Café
Tuesday, July 20 – Medici
Saturday, July 31 – Kelly’s Bakery & Café
Thursday, August 12 – Rosie’s Pub
Saturday, August 28 – Kelly’s Bakery & Café
Tuesday, August 31 – Medici
Tuesday, September 21 – Medici
Saturday, September 25 – Kelly’s Bakery & Café
Tuesday, October 19 – Medici
Sundays – Coffee Hound features Local Quiche

**Dates yet to be determined - Garlic Press

(For more information on these events, including menus, sign up for Heartland Local Food Network’s email list by sending an email to hlfn@hlfn.org  OR by contacting the participating restaurants:)

Kelly’s Bakery & Café, 113 N. Center St.,  Bloomington, (309) 820-1200, http://www.kellysbakeryandcafe.com/

Medici, 120 W. North St., Normal (309) 452-6334, http://www.medicinormal.com/

Rosie’s Pub, 106 E. Front St., Bloomington (309) 827-7019

Coffee Hound, 407 N. Main St., Bloomington (309) 827-7575 & 205 W. North St., Normal (309) 454-7575, http://www.coffeehound.net/index.php?link=home

Garlic Press, 106 W. North St., Normal (309) 452-0987, http://www.thegarlicpress.com/

**Local Flavors is a program of the Buy Fresh Buy Local Central Illinois Chapter operating in the Bloomington/Normal area in partnership with Heartland Local Food Network Inc.  The purpose of this program is to connect local farmers to area restaurants, retailers, institutions, farmers’ markets and consumers within the Central Illinois region.  To find out more, go to http://www.ilstewards.org/content/3811 and http://www.hlfn.org.