Department of Ag Proposed Soil and Water Conservation Cuts
The John R. Block Department of Agriculture Building in Springfield.
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It appears a nearly 50-percent cut in operational funds for Soil and Water Conservation Districts across the state came directly from the Illinois Department of Agriculture, but nobody is saying why.
The operational funding for 97 SWCD’s around to state was slashed from $8.5 million in the FY24 budget that expires Monday to $4.5 million.
Multiple sources confirmed the cut was part of Governor JB Pritzker’s introduced budget earlier this year, but we have since learned the proposed cut originated in the budgeting process for the Illinois Department of Agriculture.
The Department of Agriculture took about 48 hours (43 if you want to be specific) to respond to our request about the cut. Here is what we received from Department of Agriculture spokesperson Lori Harlan:
“Our message on this has been consistent throughout this legislative session. The $7.5 million introduced for Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs) in the FY25 budget has been consistent with every introduced budget by this administration. Director Costello addressed this during his testimony to both House and Senate Appropriations committees. A $4 million increase to SWCD operations was added by the General Assembly for fiscal years FY22-24. Director Costello made clear in both committees that the Department would collaborate with any legislator looking to add additional resources for the state’s SWCDs, just as the Department has sought federal partnerships to add front line field assistance through the Conservation Planner partnership with USDA NRCS, which added 40 front line conservation field staff throughout the state.”
It’s long, so I blocked it, but here’s an important clarification:
The FY25 (new) budget request was $7.5 million total. That is $4.5 million for operations and $3 million for cost-share programs with producers around the state. The previous operations budget was $8.5 with $3 million for cost-share programs, a total of $11.5 million.
The issue is, who in the Department of Agriculture, when the Pritzker administration cut practically zero dollars in state spending, decided to take a budget pick-axe to Soil and Water Conservation districts?
Agriculture Director Jerry Costello II, a former Democratic State Representative, bragged earlier this year about increased funding the Pritzker administration had secured for Soil & Water Conservation Districts.
“Our Soil and Water Conservation Districts weren’t funded; they weren’t funded at all to the level that they should have been,” Costello told FarmWeek. “We will continue to go after funding from the legislature, working as an administration with the legislature, to make sure that these programs are adopted.”
Association of Illinois Soil & Water Conservation Districts Executive Director Dr. Michael Woods says the agencies need more state support.
“The need for elevated instatement from the state into the SWCD operational funds for the principal front-line boots on the ground staff is essential to put in action a commitment to conservation,” Woods said. “While the Governor’s administration and General Assembly should be commended for the $3 million cost share funds that stayed steady, the reduced operational funding to $4.5 million significantly reduces the ability for the frontline boots on the ground SWCD staff to aid in advancing, natural resource protection, climate smart initiatives and voluntary advancement of essential conservation practices.”
Sources indicate some downstate Democrats are already pressing for full funding for Soil and Water Conservation Districts during the fall veto session.
