Illinois Conservation Practices Cost-Share Program

State cost-share for erosion-control practices on Illinois cropland, funded through the Partners for Conservation Program. IDOA distributes the money to soil and water conservation districts (SWCDs), which prioritize and select projects; construction costs are split between the state and the landowner. Eligible practices include cover crops, filter strips, grassed waterways, terraces, no-till, nutrient management, and water and sediment control basins.

• Land must be experiencing erosion at rates greater than one and one-half times the tolerable soil loss level.

• Landowner must be a cooperator with the local SWCD and have an SWCD-approved conservation plan on file.

• Each SWCD may limit eligibility to particular practices deemed appropriate for their district.

• Recipients must agree to maintain structural practices (and possibly some management practices) for at least 10 years.

Up to 60% cost-share (SWCD-set per practice); per-project caps may apply; 10-year maintenance agreement. Eligible practices: cover and green manure crops_, critical area planting, diversions, field border strips, filter strips, grade stabilization structures, grassed waterways, no-till planting systems_, nutrient management planning/implementation, pastureland and hay land plantings, terraces_, water and sediment control basins (_some restrictions apply).

Published amounts: SWCDs also set maximum cost-share rates for each practice, up to a maximum of 60 percent. Maximum cost-share payments may also be established for each project. Cost-share payments are based on locally established average costs for similar conservation practices.

Landowners seeking cost-share assistance should contact their local SWCD office. Assistance is prioritized toward projects that save the most soil or benefit the most acres per dollar cost.

Deadline text on the page: No statewide deadline published; landowners apply through their local SWCD, which sets its own sign-up.