Food Production

Livestock Operations

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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Protecting Soil Health in Illinois

In the 11th installment of IEC’s Lunch & Learn Series, IEC will be joined by Kris Reynolds from American Farmland Trust and Bruce Henrikson from the Champaign County Soil and Water Conservation Districts to discuss ways we can protect our soil, prevent nutrient loss and programs that farmers can use to improve soil quality. Find

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Growing Your Own Food & Gardening

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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Reclaimed Heritage: How Simple Appreciation is Better for Us and the Planet

By Crystal Kern | IEC Finance Director I grew up on a self-sufficient farm in central Kentucky. We had a diverse garden with more plant varieties than I can recall along with several animals. Everything produced on the farm solely supported our family. If we had an abundance of produce, we would invite neighbors over to

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Gov. Pritzker Signs Bill Redefining ‘Local Food’

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

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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FY19 Budget and the Environment

This week, the General Assembly took steps to move forward a comprehensive budget for Fiscal Year 2019. As we are still dealing with the damage caused to environmental programs and our natural areas by the record-setting budget impasse, it’s vital that a sound budget is in place for our work growing clean jobs, conserving open spaces, and protecting

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2018 Legislative Agenda

What will IEC be up to in 2018

The 2018 state legislative session began February, 30th 2018. With the Primary Election scheduled for March 20, session days are light between now and March. With continued threats to the environment coming from the federal level, we will be working harder than ever to defend existing protections and push environmental justice priorities in our 2018

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Reports and Analysis

Food, Farms, and the Environment: What’s on your legislator’s plate for 2014?

We’re a little over a month in to session and IEC is tracking over 100 bills that touch on environmental issues.  Few bills are advancing out of committee at this point.  Committee deadline is March 28; it’s very likely that a great majority of bills will be heard in committee after the Primary Election on

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Legislative Report

Mid-May Update

With a little over two weeks left until the deadline for session to end (May 31), the environmental community’s largest issues are still moving.  Yesterday, a story about the fix that we are supporting to Illinois’ renewable energy portfolio standards was on the front page of the Chicago Tribune. The fix to the RPS is still

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