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91_HB2605eng
HB2605 Engrossed LRB9103930DHmgA
1 AN ACT to create the Illinois Rivers-Friendly Farmer
2 Program Act.
3 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
4 represented in the General Assembly:
5 Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the
6 Illinois Rivers-Friendly Farmer Program Act.
7 Section 5. Program established. The Department of
8 Agriculture shall establish the Illinois Rivers-Friendly
9 Farmer Program to recognize farmers helping to protect and
10 enhance the State's rivers.
11 Section 10. Purposes. The program is intended to promote
12 farming practices that benefit rivers while maintaining farm
13 profitability and to inform the public about farmers'
14 contributions to cleaning up of the rivers of Illinois.
15 Section 15. A farmer seeking the "Rivers-Friendly Farmer"
16 designation may submit a written application to the
17 Department of Agriculture or an agency designated by the
18 Department by rule.
19 Section 20. Program criteria. Farmers who satisfy all
20 of the following criteria applicable to their operations may
21 be designated Rivers-Friendly farmers:
22 (1) All crop land has 30% surface residue coverage
23 after planting, as a rotation average. (Alternatively,
24 equivalent sediment control can be provided from measures
25 such as field windbreaks, contour farming, buffer strips,
26 terraces, strip cropping, filter strips, and including
27 hay in the crop rotation.)
28 (2) Soil loss on crop land is at or below the
HB2605 Engrossed -2- LRB9103930DHmgA
1 tolerable soil loss level in accordance with the State's
2 Erosion and Sediment Control Guidelines.
3 (3) Fertilizer application rates are consistent
4 with the Illinois Agronomy Handbook guidelines and are
5 based on soil testing, manure testing, realistic yield
6 goals, and credits from previous legume crops and manure
7 applications.
8 (4) Statewide and applicable regional best
9 management practices for nitrogen, as recommended by the
10 Department, are observed.
11 (5) Liquid manure is injected, or incorporated
12 within 48 hours of surface application.
13 (6) Within 200 feet of surface waters, drainage
14 ditches, tile intakes, and other areas needing special
15 protection, manure is applied in a manner that minimizes
16 contamination according to Department guidelines.
17 (7) Pesticides are used together with cultural
18 pest-control practices, at no higher than labeled rates,
19 observing guidelines for water quality protection
20 (atrazine setback distances, for example). Containers
21 are stored, handled, and disposed of in accordance with
22 State and federal law.
23 Section 25. Rules. The Department of Agriculture shall
24 adopt rules to implement and administer this Act.
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