Conservation Winner in State Budget
The recently-passed fiscal year 2022 budget featured new and increased support for conservation programs and the Illinois Department of Agriculture.
The Illinois House approved the budget 72-44-1 with only Democrats voting in favor. The Senate voted 37-21 in favor of the fiscal year blueprint with all Republicans and three Democrats opposing. It now heads to Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s desk.
Highlights - Funding was more than doubled for the cover crop insurance premium discount program from $300,000 to $660,000. The move increases from 50,000 acres the first two years of the program to 100,000 acres. IDOA’s Fall Covers for Spring Savings Program was filled quickly the last two years. The current discount program opened the application period Dec. 15, 2020, and saw the 50,000-acre limit met within the first 24 hours. There were 768 applications requesting over 185,000 acres. In the program’s inaugural year, the 50,000-acre allotment filled within 10 days with over 500 applications requesting over 133,000 acres of cover crops.
Legislators increased Soil and Water Conservation Districts funding for operations by $4 million to $8.5 billion after several years of no increases.
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The Illinois House approved the budget 72-44-1 with only Democrats voting in favor. The Senate voted 37-21 in favor of the fiscal year blueprint with all Republicans and three Democrats opposing. It now heads to Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s desk.
Highlights - Funding was more than doubled for the cover crop insurance premium discount program from $300,000 to $660,000. The move increases from 50,000 acres the first two years of the program to 100,000 acres. IDOA’s Fall Covers for Spring Savings Program was filled quickly the last two years. The current discount program opened the application period Dec. 15, 2020, and saw the 50,000-acre limit met within the first 24 hours. There were 768 applications requesting over 185,000 acres. In the program’s inaugural year, the 50,000-acre allotment filled within 10 days with over 500 applications requesting over 133,000 acres of cover crops.
Legislators increased Soil and Water Conservation Districts funding for operations by $4 million to $8.5 billion after several years of no increases.
Click Here to read more.