Illinois Farm Bureau awards 34 local pollinator, nutrient stewardship grants
PROTECTED CONTENT
If you’re a current subscriber, log in below. If you would like to subscribe, please click the subscribe tab above.
Username and Password Help
Please enter your email and we will send you a password reset link.
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – Committed to protecting Illinois’ resources and the environment through farmer-led, locally-developed programs, Illinois Farm Bureau (IFB) is awarding a record 34 grants for nutrient stewardship and pollinator projects to county Farm Bureaus across the state.
The Environmental Stewardship Grants support the education, outreach, and implementation for nutrient management and pollinator restoration, providing direct funding to support county Farm Bureau projects. This year, IFB more than doubled the number of Pollinator Conservation Grants awarded, and between both programs, six new counties applied and will receive grants.
“The Environmental Stewardship Grants are a key component of implementing Environmental Programs in Illinois,” said Bena Pegg, IFB environmental program manager. “Not only do the funds provide necessary support to local chapters for community inspired solutions, they also provide space for individuals to connect to discuss conservation, the environment, and greater farming concerns. These connections are important for local communities and the greater regenerative agriculture conversation taking root across Illinois.”
In 2026, 26 CFBs will collaborate on 17 nutrient stewardship projects. Additionally, 24 CFBs will work together on 17 pollinator conservation projects. Since 2015, IFB has awarded a total of $1.75 million for 192 county-led nutrient stewardship projects. Entering the fifth year of the Pollinator Conservation Grant program, IFB has awarded $165,000 for 45 projects.
Nutrient Stewardship Grant recipient CFBs and their projects include:
- Adams (Pike-Scott, Hancock, Schuyler, Brown) will host an eight-week Master Watershed Steward course to support the Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy water quality goals in the Mississippi North Central Priority Watershed.
- Bureau will continue to support and expand farm-scale research on 1,100 acres. Funds will support the purchase of automatic water samplers and isotope labeling of fertilizer versus non-fertilizer nitrate. Monitoring also will be expanded to Walnut Creek.
- Carroll (Whiteside, Henry) will fund a bus trip to the Jo Daviess County Field Day. The program will increase attendance and expand education regionally. Jo Daviess focuses on animal integration, fenceless grazing and cover crops as forage.
- Clark will fund a Nutrient Stewardship Traveling Field Day to Southern Illinois University-Carbondale and John Pike’s Farm. The tours will include cover crop variety trials, cover crop management and education on building and monitoring soil health.
- Clinton will continue implementing its cover crop, manure management, soil testing programs, and host multiple educational outreach opportunities focused on regenerative agriculture and novel techniques.
- Cook will continue its research on utilization of struvite (magnesium ammonium phosphate) as a slow-release phosphate fertilizer that could be used to minimize nutrient loss. Expecting to publish paper with struvite proposed as a best management practice to reduce nitrogen and phosphorus losses. They will also host urban field days with specialty growers.
- Henry will use money for a cover crop seed program. Funds are earmarked for individual farmers who are new to cover crops or have not used them in at least three years.
- Jo Daviess will implement managed grazing within a row crop system to study cover crop mix trials, 60-inch row corn, soil health and field tile/runoff tests. Three field days will be hosted in Jo Daviess County and one at the Fields of Sinsinawa.
- LaSalle will host an educational event in partnership with Illinois Valley Community College.
- Lee (Cook) will host a grand opening for the Niles Township Habitat and Retention Restoration site created last year. Permanent signage, seating and other items will be installed. Funds will also be used to continue partnership with Northwestern University.
- Madison will partner with Willoughby Farm — a demonstration farm in Collinsville. The team will investigate the effects of biochar incorporated with manure and measure nitrogen loss, microbial activity, leachate (nitrogen and carbon), and nutrient retention. The data will also provide an estimate of plant-available nitrogen.
- Montgomery will support the local Soil and Water Conservation District/Hillsboro Lake initiative with a cover crop field day.
- Washington-Perry will continue developing a cover crop project to identify optimum seeding rate for cereal rye as an effective weed control as well as study soil health aspects of cover crops.
- Wayne will continue field trials to demonstrate fertilizer efficiency of inhibitors, biologicals and inoculants and compare economic advantages of traditional fertilizer methods.
- Will plans to host two educational field days. The spring field day will focus on novel research for the University of Illinois. The fall field day will focus on implementation of conservation practices.
- Winnebago-Boone will fund soil health testing via the Haney Test for members of Winnebago and Boone counties. The funds will support five samples per farmer.
Pollinator Conservation Grant recipient CFBs and their projects include:
- Clinton will improve the Fairground Pollinator Plot (Certified Monarch Waystation), Carlyle Lake Visitors Center, and establish a new plot at the Clinton County Farm Bureau office and along the abandoned railroad tracks. They will also provide pollinator kits to local schools through Agriculture in the Classroom (AITC).
- Cook will continue its partnership with the Lincoln Park Zoo and develop a new partnership with Global Gardens and the Chicago Park District to provide signage and field day support for a new pollinator park and urban garden site.
- Crawford, Jackson, Jasper, La Salle, Lee (Bureau, Marshall-Putnam, Stark and Whiteside), Marion, Pulaski-Alexander (Massac), and Stephenson-Carroll will fund a discounted pollinator seed sale for Farm Bureau members.
- DeKalb will fund the design and development of a vacant, 2.5-acre Farm Bureau property to create a pollinator plot and education pathway for AITC and the public. A public bike path is adjacent to the pollinator plot.
- Kane will work with various partners to distribute pollinator education calendars to Farm Bureau members and the local community.
- Lee will create a community garden plot in Amboy.
- Marion will provide pollinator kits to local grade schools.
- Mason will organize meetings to plan the development of a new pollinator garden.
- Randolph will maintain and expand an established pollinator garden at IFB and Extension grounds and host a community education event.
- Washington-Perry will plant multiple pollinator plots across the county and monitor plots for species attracted.
About the Nutrient Stewardship and Pollinator Conservation Grant Programs:
The Nutrient Stewardship Grant program is part of IFB’s ongoing commitment to furthering the state’s Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy (NLRS). The program was developed to engage all levels of IFB in the NLRS. Projects have focused on four priority areas:
- Education and outreach to farmers, landowners and the public.
- Support for research of best management practices to reduce nutrient loss from agricultural fields.
- Support for farmer implementation efforts across the state.
- Demonstrating progress toward the long-term goals of the Illinois NLRS.
The Pollinator Conservation Grant Program provides CFBs and farmers with opportunities to engage in locally led pollinator projects. The program was developed based on interest and recommendations from CFBs and farmers who wanted to access additional support for farmer-focused pollinator programming and materials.
IFB maintains an active role in supporting CFBs and local partners to develop projects that address farmer needs for research, education and outreach, and implementing best management practices for nutrient loss reduction and pollinator conservation.
About Illinois Farm Bureau:
Founded in 1916, Illinois Farm Bureau – originally known as the Illinois Agricultural Association – is a nonprofit, grassroots membership organization. Illinois Farm Bureau and a statewide network of county Farm Bureaus give members an advantage through impactful advocacy, trusted information and meaningful development to support their careers and Illinois farm families.
Learn more about Illinois agriculture at www.ilfb.org. Connect with Illinois Farm Bureau on Facebook: Illinois Farm Bureau | Facebook, Instagram @ilfarmbureau, X @ILFarmBureau, or on TikTok @illinoisfarmbureau.