You may see a new face around the McHenry-Lake County USDA Service Center. The new face is Erika Turner, the new District Conservationist for the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). You should stop in and meet her. While you are there, you can ask about the many voluntary and incentive based programs. If you have any questions or would like to discuss our programs, please call our office at 815-338-0099.
Erika can assist you with developing and implementing your conservation plan. Landowners interested in conservation are encouraged to start planning now. Whether you have livestock, grow fruit and vegetables to sell, produce grain, or raise your crops organically, it is never too early to start planning. A plan helps you, as the landowner or producer, have a better understanding of your concerns about your land and the possible solutions. Once the plan is complete, you can then take a look at the cost-share programs available to you and you may choose the program(s) that will best help you to implement your plan.
There are several programs available to you, depending on what your vision for your operation looks like, such as the Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP), Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program (WHIP), Wetland Reserve Program (WRP), and Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). EQIP, WHIP, and WRP are administered by NRCS. They are voluntary programs that provide assistance to farmers and livestock producers to address environmental concerns involving soil, water, and other related natural resources on their land. Some of the practices eligible through EQIP are grassed waterways, terraces, nutrient management, residue management, Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan (CNMP) and implementation, and forestry plans and implementation, to name a few. WHIP provides assistance to producers interested in creating or enhancing high quality upland or wetland wildlife habitat. WRP helps landowners restore and improve wetland resources on their ground, providing a possible solution to farm ground with recurring crop losses due to water. NRCS accepts applications on a year-round basis with funding periods several times a year, please stop in and ask if you have any questions regarding any of these programs.
The CRP program is administered by the FSA. It is a voluntary program that helps agricultural producers protect environmentally sensitive land. The CRP program involves planting long-term, resource-conserving covers to improve the quality of water, control soil erosion, and enhance wildlife habitat. In return, participants receive annual rental payments and cost-share assistance towards implementing the practices. A few of the commonly used practices include grassed waterways, filter strips, and field borders. Visit your local FSA office for more details.
