IL HR1186

The USDA designated 98 of 102 Illinois counties as disaster areas due to drought conditions affecting crop and livestock production.

The USDA Farm Service Agency authorized emergency haying and grazing on certain Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) practices effective August 2, 2012, but filter strips were not included as an eligible practice.

Illinois State FSA requested that filter strips be added to eligible CRP practices for emergency haying and grazing, but the federal government has not approved this request.

The resolution urges the Governor, Illinois Department of Agriculture Director, and Illinois Congressional delegation to encourage the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture to immediately allow filter strips as an eligible conservation practice for emergency haying and grazing in Illinois.

Copies of the resolution are to be delivered to the Governor, Illinois Director of Agriculture, and the Illinois Congressional delegation.