IL SJR0044

Declares the first full week of March 2022 as "Illinois Soil Health Week" and the Wednesday of that week as "Illinois Soil Health Day"

Recognizes six basic principles of soil health: minimizing soil disturbance, maximizing plant and microbial diversity, maintaining living roots, keeping soil covered, integrating animals into land management, and considering local conditions in decision-making

Identifies soil health practices such as no-till farming, cover crops, nutrient management plans, and crop rotations as essential for reducing nutrient pollution and meeting non-point source pollution goals for nitrate-nitrogen and phosphorus

Acknowledges soil health's role in carbon sequestration, improving organic matter content, stabilizing soil biomes, and increasing water infiltration and water-holding capacity

Directs distribution of resolution copies to the Director of the Department of Agriculture, the Governor's Office, and chairs of the Senate Agriculture Committee and House Agriculture & Conservation Committee