CCFB Awarded $30,000 NLRS & $2,500 Pollinator Grants for 2025

Clinton County is one of 18 Illinois county Farm Bureaus that will collaborate on 15 projects state-wide, funded with a total of $175,000 through Illinois Farm Bureau’s (IFB) 2025 Nutrient Stewardship Grant program.  Since 2015, Illinois Farm Bureau (IFB) has awarded $1.2 million for more than 130 county Farm Bureau-led nutrient projects that help promote local nutrient stewardship, soil health, and water quality projects.  Through the program, IFB takes an active role in supporting county Farm Bureaus and local partners as they 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 (CFB) was awarded a $30,000 matching grant for our 2025 project that will continue to explore the influence of manure management and cover crops on reducing nutrient losses.  To-date, Clinton CFB has received Nutrient Stewardship Grants totaling $194,575 as part of this effort.

The 2025 project will continue our research on 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.  This year’s grant will also introduce some new ideas and opportunities, including a “Soils 101” producer meeting, cover crop seed subsidies to encourage adoption, and even a new local Soil Testing program for gardeners and homeowners to illustrate how everyone can be part of the Nutrient Stewardship effort.

In addition to IFB’s Nutrient Stewardship Grant, 10 county Farm Bureaus will work together on 7 Pollinator Conservation Grant projects in 2025.  This 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 2025, Clinton County is receiving $2,500 to continue to develop pollinator habitat demonstration plots to study the habitat’s potential as a buffer for invasive species.  We will again 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 10^th 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 almost $390,000 in local nutrient stewardship research to-date. 

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.

For more information on Clinton CFB’s environmental efforts and upcoming Field Days and events, you can learn more on our website at: https://clintoncofb.org/resources/#nutrient-stewardship