Agriculture Archives - Illinois Environmental Council

How Local Food Systems Can Transform School Lunchrooms and Brighten Futures

January 29, 2024

With locally-grown food in their diets, students have stopped getting fast food and vending machine snacks for lunch, feel sustained until dinner time, and are more alert in class. The students have also grown closer to the cafeteria staff and gained a greater appreciation for food and where it comes from. IEC pays a visit to Pawnee Schools to see their farm-to-table school lunch program!

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Agriculture and Environmental Experts Comment on Release of Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Report, Call for Greater Accountability and Leadership to Protect Health of Lands and Waters

December 1, 2023

Springfield, IL (December 1, 2023) — Experts from five organizations representing agriculture, environmental policy, and conservation across Illinois released statements on the recent Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy (NLRS) biennial report, developed by the Illinois Department of Agriculture and Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. While the point-source sector, primarily sewage treatment facilities, continues to progress in reducing

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Advocates Praise Senate Bill 1701 Passage as Critical Step Forward for Illinois Soil and Water Health

May 19, 2023

SPRINGFIELD, IL – The passage of Senate Bill 1701 advances agriculture conservation in Illinois by supporting farming practices that will yield healthier, stronger soils and cleaner water across the state, advocates said today. Legislators approved Senate Bill 1701 as part of the final days of the spring legislative session in Springfield. It now goes to

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Conservation and Agriculture Town Hall

November 3, 2022

Monday, November 14 | 6-7:30 pm | Register via Zoom using the form below IEC is hosting a series of three town halls for our supporters. At the Conservation and Agriculture Town Hall, participants will hear from IEC and our partners on the most pressing issues facing Illinois and our current advocacy plans. We’re reserving

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Agriculture Lease Agreements with Illinois Department of Natural Resources

March 9, 2022

In December of 2021, Lindsay Keeney and Eliot Clay of the Illinois Environmental Council (IEC) sat down with Mike Chandler and Bob Caveny of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) to discuss the department’s agriculture lease program. Mike Chandler is the Agricultural Lease Manager for the IDNR and has been with the department for 29 years. Bob Caveny is the Farm Programs Manager and has been with IDNR for 10 years.

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Livestock Operations

August 13, 2020

The Livestock Facilities Management Act regulates large animal facilities that house thousands of hogs, chicken, or cows. It is also used to actively supersede local control of the siting and construction of these types of facilities. Danielle Diamond from the Socially Responsible Agriculture Project and Albert Ettinger, attorney, will review the laws concerning livestock operations.

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The Truth About Illinois, the Great Feeder of the World

May 1, 2020

We need to accept that we were wrong. We must take a holistic approach to our food system if we want to survive another crisis.

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Growing Your Own Food & Gardening

March 19, 2020

Share on facebook Share on twitter Share on linkedin Share on email In the second edition of IEC’s Lunch and Learn Series, we are joined by Right to Garden advocate Nicole Virgil (YouTube.com/RightToGarden); Viviana Gentry Fernandez-Pellon, Programs Director at Advocates for Urban Agriculture; Master Gardener Kathy Steffen; and State Representative Sonya Harper. Check out Nicole’s

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Gov. Pritzker Signs Bill Redefining ‘Local Food’

August 13, 2019

New law positions local businesses for success SPRINGFIELD, IL — On Friday, Aug. 9, 2019, Gov. JB Pritzker signed legislation redefining what shall be considered “local” food in the state of Illinois, making it easier for Illinois-based food producers and manufacturers to compete for state procurement contracts that prioritize “local foods.” Prior to the governor

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The Price of Climate Change

July 18, 2019

Midwestern farmers are paying the price of climate change

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Bill Helping Farmers Reduce Costly Erosion and Runoff Advances to State Senate

March 29, 2019

Expands Soil Water Conservation Districts Ability to Assist Illinois Farmers (SPRINGFIELD, IL) — A bill green-lighting the inclusion of soil health best practices among the list of resources that local Soil Water Conservation Districts are allowed to provide Illinois farmers advanced out of the Illinois State House chamber yesterday by a unanimous vote. HB 2737,

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Agriculture