Funding will foster future of Illinois agriculture
SPRINGFIELD
(June 15, 2018) – Gov. Bruce Rauner joined the Director of the Illinois
Department of Agriculture Raymond Poe, local officials, and the
Stremsterfer family at Stremsterfer
Farms in Pleasant Plains today to announce the release of $16M in
agriculture grants. The funds being released from the fiscal year 2018
budget will fund soil & water districts, county fairs and
agriculture societies, and the University of Illinois Extension
services.
“These
three entities provide services that are vital for the future of
Illinois agriculture,” Rauner said. “From protecting our farmland for
future generations to fostering
agriculture careers and educating consumers, these organizations
support Illinois agriculture, the backbone of our state’s economy.”
“Funding
for these organizations comes at a critical time,” said Ag Director
Raymond Poe. “We must continue to fund these organizations in order to
sustain their key programs. I
want to thank our agricultural partners for commitment to Illinois
agriculture and for their cooperation in these fiscally challenging
times.”
Soil
and Water Conservation Districts, which protects our state’s farmland
through strategic conservation efforts, will receive $6 million. The 97
districts around the state
play a central role in efforts to protect and sustain the viability of
Illinois soil and water resources in order to preserve our farmland for
future generations. The Department will be issuing more than $61,000 to
each of the districts to help fund operations.
“As
a result of this funding, the SWCD’s of Illinois will be better
positioned to support important conservation efforts such as the
statewide Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy,”
said Steve Stierwalt, President of the Association of Illinois Soil and
Water Conservation Districts. “This funding also ensures that SWCD’s
have the resources needed to continue to provide important technical
expertise, assistance, and cost-share agreements
to not only farmers for the installation of conservation practices such
as grassed waterways, filter strips, and cover crops – but also urban,
suburban, and other rural landowners.”
More
than $54,000 will be sent to each of the 92 county fairs across the
state. It will help operations at the fairs and may be used to support
critical facility rehabilitation
needs. Illinois county fairs are economic drivers for rural Illinois. A
study from the University of Illinois shows county fairs generate more
than $90 million annually and create more than 1,000 jobs each
summer. In addition to providing family friendly entertainment,
county fairs provide an outlet for our state’s youth to become involved
and engaged in Illinois agriculture.
“County
fairs are a big footprint of rural Illinois and a huge part of the
economic strength and morale of each county in Illinois,” said Gary
Hadden with the Morgan County Fair.
“We appreciate Gov. Rauner making these funds available as this will
provide a great boost to local counties across the state to help make
necessary upgrades so they can increase activities. This will bring more
people to their county fairs and with the increase
of travel, people will spend more money to help stimulate the Illinois
economy.”
More
than 1.5 million Illinois residents take part in programs offered by
the University of Illinois Extension Service. Extension provides
educational assistance in the areas
of energy and environmental stewardship, food safety and security,
economic development and workforce preparedness, family health,
financial security and wellness, and youth development. The Department
of Agriculture will disperse $5 million dollars to assist
the organization with its core mission.
“Conservation
is key to being good stewards of the land,” Travis Stremsterfer said.
“Our family has always believed that we should leave the land in a
better condition than when
we received it, as a way to ensure that we are leaving behind an
agricultural legacy for future generations. We have been farming here in
Sangamon County since 1910 and I look forward to passing that tradition
down to my children.”
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