Clinton County Awarded 2023 NLRS & Pollinator Grants

Clinton County is one of 23 Illinois county Farm Bureaus that will oversee 17 projects funded with $150,000 through Illinois Farm Bureau’s (IFB) 2023 Nutrient Stewardship Grant program.  Since 2015, Illinois Farm Bureau (IFB) has committed nearly $2.8 million to nutrient stewardship efforts – including $1,000,000 for the Nutrient Stewardship Grant Program – to help promote local nutrient stewardship, soil health, and water quality projects.  Through the program, IFB takes an active role to support county Farm Bureaus and local partners to develop projects that address farmer needs for research, education and outreach, and implementing best management practices for nutrient loss reduction.

The Clinton County Farm Bureau was awarded a $24,500 matching grant for their 2023 project that will continue to explore the influence of manure management and cover crops on reducing nutrient losses.  The project will continue its research comparing cropping systems using cover crops and livestock manure, offer free manure nutrient testing, and invite farmers to learn about NLRS practices at field day(s) and additional outreach and educational efforts.  To-date, Clinton CFB has received Nutrient Stewardship Grants totaling $139,050 as part of this effort.

In addition, the Pollinator Conservation Grant Program will once again provide CFBs and farmer leaders with opportunities to engage in pollinator-focused projects such as planting habitat plots, providing education and outreach opportunities, and others.  For 2023, Clinton County is receiving $1,750 to establish pollinator habitat near its cover crop plot and study the habitat’s potential as a buffer for invasive species.  We will also work with volunteers from the Extension Master Gardener/Master Naturalist programs to implement additional pollinator habitats near participating schools and Ag programs.

Now in our eighth year participating in IFB’s Nutrient Stewardship Grant Program, the Clinton CFB is continuing to provide numerous education and outreach opportunities, primarily focused on manure management, cover crops, and soil health.  As part of the multi-year research project with Illinois Farm Bureau, the Clinton CFB has committed over $278,000 in local nutrient stewardship research to-date.  For more information on Clinton CFB’s environmental efforts, you can learn more on our website at: https://clintoncofb.org/resources/#nutrient-stewardship

The Clinton County Farm Bureau and our project collaborators look forward to continuing local efforts to focus on today’s challenges in agriculture, including nutrient loss reduction and improved water quality.  These inventive projects both educate and present new data to area farmers as we work together to move the needle on the state’s Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy goals.

Be sure to mark your calendars for local 2023 Nutrient Stewardship Field Days on April 22^nd and July 29^th.