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| [ Introduced ] | [ Enrolled ] | [ House Amendment 001 ] |
| [ Senate Amendment 001 ] |
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.