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Farm Funding Directory

Click the topics below to view all farm funding opportunities in Kankakee County.

Many local, state, and federal programs exist to help farmers and landowners implement conservation practices and establish habitat for hunting, fishing, and enjoyment. 

In 2022, the Illinois Sustainable Ag Partnership (ISAP) developed the ISAP Cover Crop Incentives Directory and stacking matrix to give farmers a single resource to shop for programs that fit their goals.

The Kankakee County SWCD took this valuable ISAP resource and tailored it specifically for incentives available to Kankakee County farmers, and adding additional programs for habitat establishment. Download the Kankakee County Farm Funding Directory document above, or scroll through this webpage to learn more about local, state, and federal conservation programs. 

Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) and
Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) 

Fund cover crops, strip and no till, well sealing, and more with flexible 1 to 3 year contracts through the Kankakee SWCD.

Contact Crystal Sauder at
(815) 937-8940 ext. 3 

SWCD Partners for Conservation Cost-Share

Receive financial and technical assistance to implement conservation practices to address natural resource issues on your farm.

Contact Trenton Rader at
(815) 937-8940 

NRCS Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)

Receive NRCS funds to implement conservation practices, or receive funding for Ag Land Easements to protect your farm. Special consideration for black farmers in Pembroke Township! 

Contact Trenton Rader at
(815) 937-8940 

Illinois Working Lands, Water, and Wildlife Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP)

Receive NRCS funds to implement conservation practices or establish habitat to address water quality and quantity issues in the Kankakee River Watershed.

Contact Emilie Watkins at
emilie.watkins@kankakeecountyswcd.org

Kankakee River Basin Regional Conservation Partnership Program

Learn which conservation programs you can stack to increase incentive payments per acre!

Receive financial and technical assistance to implement practices that enhance your current conservation efforts.

Contact Trenton Rader at
(815) 937-8940 

NRCS Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP)

In exchange for an annual rental payment, farmers agree to convert ag land to quality native habitat.  Another program, the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) builds upon CRP. 

Contact the Farm Service Agency at (815) 937-8940

Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)

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SWCD & NRCS

Cover Crop Incentives

Receive $5/acre insurance premium discount on the following year's crop insurance for every acre enrolled and verified.

Sign-up period opens in December and is first come, first served.

Fall Covers for Spring Savings (FCSS)

FOR ALL: Receive $10/acre for cover crops planted on or before 12-1-22.
FOR ADM CUSTOMERS: $5-8 for change to no-till, $1-5 for emissions scoring. 

Click Here for Program Info Card.

Illinois Cover Crop Initiative (ICC)

Provides per acre payments for carbon and water quality sequestration resulting from new  conservation practice implementation. This is an ecosystems market program.

Soil and Water Outcomes Fund (SWOF)

Provides money towards the purchase of cover crop seed from participating partner retailers. 

Illinois Corn Cover Crop Coupon

Receive $15/acre for new cover crops and $7/acre for existing cover crops. This annual program includes a 1-year IL Corn membership. This is an ecosystem markets program.

PepsiCo Cover Crop Incentive Program

Learn which conservation programs you can stack to increase incentive payments per acre!

Cover Crop Incentives

Habitat Funding

In exchange for an annual rental payment, farmers agree to convert ag land to quality native habitat such as pollinator or grassland.

Contact the Farm Service Agency at (815) 937-8940

Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)

For a rental payments, farmers agree to convert frequently flooded ag land to quality native habitat such as pollinator or grassland. This program piggybacks off of the CRP program.

Contact IDNR CREP at DNR.CREP@illinois.edu

Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP)

Receive technical and financial assistance to plan, design, supervise, and monitor customized habitat projects. Coupled with other habitat programs listed here, landowners may establish quality hunting and fishing habitat at little to no cost.

Contact Jason Bleich at 
jason_bleich@fws.gov

Partners for Fish and Wildlife

Pheasants Forever works with a number of partners across the nation to leverage private and public funding to create habitat that benefits the landowner and wildlife.

Contact Dallas Glazik at
dglazik@pheasantsforever.org

Pheasants Forever

Through the Smart Wetlands program, TWI works with farmers to construct tile-treatment wetlands to intercept nutrients along ditches and streams. 

Contact Jill Kostel at jkostel@wetlands-initiative.org

The Wetlands Initiative (TWI)
Smart Wetlands Program

This public access program allows private landowners to lease their land for outdoor recreational activities of their choice, such as hunting and fishing. Participants also receive funds to manage their habitat. 

Illinois Recreational Access Program (IRAP)

Learn which habitat programs you can stack to fund your habitat project!

Habitat Funding
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