Small Farms are Here to Stay
USDA Sec. Sonny Perdue said Tuesday at the World Dairy Expo in Madison that he wasn’t holding out much hope for the survival of family dairy operations with fewer than 100 cows. “In America, the…
Category Archives: Policy
The first industrial hemp seeds are sprouting across Illinois
By: Liz Rupel, Policy Organizer Industrial hemp cultivator and processing applications went live on the Illinois Department of Agriculture’s website at the end of April. Thanks to the dedicated team at the Department, many applications…
Food safety, pesticide drift, and Buy American act on the table at the USDA Fruit & Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee.
USDA needs to hear from you! And so do we. By Molly Gleason Last week I was sitting on a plane headed towards Washington D.C. for the first meeting of the Fruit and Vegetable Industry…
Our waterways, soil, and wildlife are a public good and farmers should be rewarded for protecting them.
Cover crops are an important conservation tool for farmers. They naturally add organic matter to the soil, prevent nutrient runoff, and keep our waterways clean. Over time they help farmers reduce the need for synthetic…
Take Action! You can make a statewide SNAP match program at farmers markets real for Illinois families and farmers
SNAP Match programs at farmers markets help our most vulnerable populations afford fresh fruits and vegetables while also keeping federal SNAP dollars in the pockets of family farmers in our state. This Spring, you have…
Local Food Lobby Day 2019
Earlier this month, Illinois Stewardship Alliance hosted our 10th annual Local Food Lobby Day! That’s 10 years of bringing farmers and eaters together across the state to meet with their legislators and drive change for…
Bill Helping Farmers Reduce Costly Erosion and Runoff Advances to State Senate
A bill green-lighting the inclusion of soil health best practices among the list of resources that local Soil Water Conservation Districts are allowed to provide Illinois farmers advanced out of the Illinois State House chamber…
Support Conservation on Public Lands HB2819/Miller
Nearly every drop of rainfall that hits Illinois flows west and down to the Mississippi Gulf, carrying with it our soil and our runoff nutrients. Nitrogen and phosphorus pollution comes from wastewater treatment plants, industrial…
Industrial Hemp Seminar
Join us at Rolling Meadows Brewery & Farm for a free industrial hemp seminar on March 19 from 11am until 3pm. The day will consist of presentations and discussions on the following topics: Update on…
Finalized hemp rules are right around the corner!
On February 5, the Illinois Department of Agriculture hosted a public hearing to give hopeful hemp cultivators, processors, and other stakeholders a platform to voice their concerns, suggestions, and praises for the proposed industrial hemp…