For more information and how to register click here.

Current Local Food Related Bills from the 96th IL General Assembly Spring 2010 Session:

The following is a list of bills and resolutions ISA is actively following:

The Farmers’ Market Technology Improvement Act (HB 4756) – Sponsored by Representative LaShawn K. Ford,  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. On March 4^th, HB 4756 passed the Illinois House of Representatives by a vote 110-2! Next stop the Illinois Senate! To read the full bill that passed the house click here. To read more about the bill click here. For a printable factsheet on the bill click here.

The Farmers’ Market Taskforce (HJR 57) – Sponsored by Representative Bill Black, 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 read the full resolution click here.

Chemical Drift Specialty Crop Farm Registry (SJR 105) – Sponsored by Senator David Koehler, 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. For more information you can read Senator Koehler’s press release announcing the website by clicking here. To read the full resolution click here. 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.

Local Food Awareness Day @ the Capitol!

On April 28^th, local food consumers, farmers and activists from across the state will come together in Springfield to encourage their legislators to support local food and sustainable agriculture. Illinois Stewardship Alliance would like to invite you to join us for our annual local food and sustainable agriculture lobby day and legislative reception, on April 28^th, 2010.

Local Food Awareness Day will consist of a legislative update and lobbying training (includes a catered box lunch), an opportunity to educate legislators about the importance of local food and sustainable agriculture, and a legislative reception at the Pasfield House following the day’s lobbying activities.

For more information and how to register click here.

Recent Local Food Related Bills that were passed by the 96th Illinois General Assembly and Signed Into Law by Governor Pat Quinn:

Health Depeartments & Local Foods (SB 574) - SB 574 was passed in response to some county and city health departments discouraging locally grown food in relation to foods that are not locally grown based on health and safety concerns. SB 574 was signed into law by Governor Quinn on 8/24/2009. SB 574 states helath departments may not discourage the pruchase or consumption of locally grown foods in relation to foods that are not locally grown, except in emergency situations. To read the full bill click here.

Farm Fresh Schools Program Act (HB 78) - This bill creates a competitive grant program to link schools with local and regional farms to provide schools with fresh and minimally processed foods for school meals.  The grant program would enable six schools - three rural and three urban - to implement a farm-to-school program.  The Farm Fresh Schools Program was signed into law by Governor Quinn on 8/7/09, to read the full bill click here. Unfortunately, in order to have enough money to match federal stimulus funds and secure those stimulus funds regarding education no money was appropriated to the provide money for the grant program for the 2010 fiscal year. However, there is good reason to beleive that the Farm Fresh School Program will be funded next year.

Illinois Food, Farms and Jobs Act (HB 3990) -
HB 3990 which creates the Illinois Local and Organic Food and Farms Council has passed both houses unanimously and was signed into law by Governor Quinn on August 18th 2009 on Agriculture day at the Illinois State Fair!  To read the final version of the bill click here. The Local Food Council will be responsible for facilitating the growth of an Illinois-based local farm and food economy.  Congratulations to all the Task Force members who worked to get this passed and thanks to those of you who called your representatives in support of this bill.  If you haven't read the full report of the Illinois Local and Organic Food and Farm Task Force you can read the full report as well as view more information about the task force and HB 3990 by clicking here.

Illinois Composting Bill (SB 99) - On 5/19/09, the Illinois Congress passed an important bill, SB99, allowing food scraps to be composted in Illinois. The bill was signed into law by Governor Quinn on August 13th, 2009. Previously, under Illinois law composting facilities were treated by the IEPA with the same kind of regulatory scrutiny that landfills recieved, because of this much of the commerical composting of waste in Illinois was done in neighboring states. Now becuase of SB 99 composoting faiclities have there own regulatory standard that is expected to eliminate one of the larger hurdles to setting up comemrical composting facilities in Illinois. To read the full bill as signed by Governor Quinn, click here.

Local Food Awareness Day will consist of a legislative update and lobbying training (includes a catered box lunch), an opportunity to educate legislators about the importance of local food and sustainable agriculture, and a legislative reception at the Pasfield House following the day’s lobbying activities.

For more information and how to register click here.

University of Illinois Extension Sangamon-Menard Unit

Washington Room

The Springfield Area Local Food Taskforce has re-scheduled the Farmer Focus group that was originally scheduled for December of 2009 but was cancelled due to weather issues. The new date is set for March 15, 4pm-6pm in the Washington Room at the University of Illinois Extension Sangamon-Menard Unit office, located at 2501 North 8th Street
Illinois State Fairgrounds, Bldg #30, Springfield, IL 62702.

We are hosting a focus group on local food production in order to get a better understanding of the issues facing local food producers in the area, and more importantly to gain insight into current barriers and opportunities for local food production from the perspective of farmers. At the focus group there will be no “right” or “wrong” answers and all your answers and input will be confidential. In addition, we will provide all participants with a light dinner at the beginning of the focus group session.

We hope you can join us; the input of local producers is invaluable!

Please RSVP by responding to this email or calling 217-528-1563.

Not a farmer? We still want your help! We need volunteers to help take notes and facilitate the focus group. If you wish to help, please RSVP by responding to this email or calling 217-528-1563 and indicate that you are not a producer but would still like to help with the focus group.

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The Springfield Area Local Food Taskforce

The Springfield Area Local Food Task Force was formed to identify strategies to increase access to locally grown healthy foods by strengthening and building a local food system.  The task force plans to fulfill three goals: 1) conduct an assessment of the current food system, 2) initiate dialogue about local food systems with those with a vested interest in a local food system, and 3) write a comprehensive report providing recommendations to improve and strengthen our local food system.

The schedule for the 2010 sustainable agriculture tours is as follows:
May 27, The Business of Vermiculture
Wilken Farms
Iroquois County

June 18, Feeding Universities Sustainably
Farmer Brown’s Production Company and Mulberry Hill Farm
Jackson County
http://farmerbrownsproductioncompany.com 

July 26, Illinois Berries
J & J Berry Farm
Jersey County

August 13, Romance Tour – Flowers and Wine
Bright Flower Nursery and Famous Fossil Vineyard & Winery
Jo Daviess County and Stephenson County
http://www.brightflowernursery.com
www.famousfossilwinery.com

September 15, Agritourism – Farm Fresh Fun
Country Corner
Henry County
http://www.country-corner.com

A fee of $20 per person will be charged for each tour, which includes lunch. This year two adults pay $30 when registered together and children under the age of 10 attend free.

Visit http://web.extension.illinois.edu/smallfarm/ag_tours.cfm to register and for more details about each of the tours including a map and agenda. To register by phone, contact Donna Cray at 217-241-4644. For more information, contact
Deborah Cavanaugh-Grant (217-968-5512; cvnghgrn@illinois.edu).

Topics of discussion will include, but not be limited to:

Lunch will be offered at the Carterville, Rockford and Urbana forums. The Chicago event includes admission to the "Saturday'socal Food Festival" on the third day of the FamilyFarmed Expo. These forums are sponsored by the Illinois Department of Agriculture.
For more information, visit ISA's calendar.

To register online for the Carterville, Rockford or Urbana events, click here.
To register online for the Chicago event, click here.

Online Registration

This event is the second in a series of four being offered to individuals involved with the production of specialty crops and farmers markets. The following topics will be highlighted for discussion:

Cost: $25 per person, if pre-registered by March 10, or $30 at the door.
         (Cash or checks only at the door, credit cards accepted online.)

This cost includes entry to \"Saturday\'s Local Food Festival, public day at the three-day FamilyFarmed EXPO\" which features cooking demos from celebrity chefs, educational seminars and an interactive Kids Corner. If you register for the 3-day Expo, this Forum cost is included in that price. Please indicate that when registering. For more information, visit Expo.

Online Registration

This event is the third in a series of four that are being offered to individuals involved with specialty crop production and farmers markets. Guests will be given lunch and the following topics will be highlighted for discussion:

Online Registration

This event is the second of four in a series being offered to individuals involved with specialty crop production and farmers markets. Guests will be given lunch and the following topics will be highlighted for discussion:

• Network and Share successful marketing and outreach initiatives
• Learn the latest news about GAP training and Food Rules Updates
• Find new ways for Growing Your Market ( including EBT/Link)
• Farmers Market Association planning update
• Check Forum for updated Farmers Market training information

Cost: $20 if registered by March 9th, or $25 at the door.
        (Cash or checks only at the door, credit cards accepted online.)

Online Registration

This event is the first in a series of four meetings that are being offered to individuals involved with specialty crop production and farmers markets. Guests will be given lunch and the following topics will be highlighted for discussion:

• Network and Share successful marketing and outreach initiatives
• Learn the latest news about GAP training and Food Rules Updates
• Find new ways for Growing Your Market ( including EBT/Link)
• Farmers Market Association planning update
• Check Forum for updated Farmers Market training information

Cost: $20 if registered by March 3rd or $25 at the door.
         (Check or cash only at the door, credit cards accepted online.)