Programs

County land users can request technical assistance or apply for financial cost-share assistance with the Vermilion County SWCD and NRCS to help offset the cost of installing best management practices to address soil and water resource concerns on their land. Funding sources vary and often have limited geographic range and varying signup periods. Interested landowners should contact the SWCD or NRCS at 217-442-8511. Several cost-share programs are listed below.

State of Illinois Funding

Partners for Conservation Program (CPP)

The SWCD administers the Partners for Conservation Program for the IL Department of Agriculture. This program provides cost share financial incentives and technical assistance for the construction or adoption of projects that conserve soil and protect water quality. For more information on the CPP program, contact the Vermilion County SWCD office in Danville. 


Streambank Stabilization and Restoration Program (SSRP)

The SSRP program from the IL Department of Agriculture works to stabilize and restore high priority streambanks that are severely eroding. Cost-share assistance is available at a rate of 75% for practices such as bendway weirs, rock riffles, stream barbs/rock vanes, gabion baskets and stone toe protection.


Federal Funding (NRCS Administration)

Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP)

The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) is a voluntary program that provides financial and technical assistance to agricultural producers through contracts up to a maximum term of ten years in length. These contracts provide financial assistance to help plan and implement conservation practices that address natural resource concerns and for opportunities to improve soil, water, plant, animal, air and related resources. More information can be found at:
EQIP Program or by contacting the NRCS office in Danville.


National Water Quality Initiative (NWQI) 

Through the National Water Quality Initiative, eligible producers will invest in voluntary conservation practices to help provide cleaner water for their neighbors and communities. Using funds from the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, NRCS will provide financial and technical assistance to producers for implementing conservation practices such as cover crops, grassed waterways, terraces, and water and sediment control basins in watersheds with impairments where federal investments can make a difference in improving water quality.

More information can be found at:
NWQI Program in Vermilion County or by contacting the NRCS office in Danville.

Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP)

Through CSP, NRCS will provide financial and technical assistance to eligible producers to conserve and enhance soil, water, air, and related natural resources on their land. CSP encourages land stewards to improve their conservation performance by installing and adopting additional activities, and improving, maintaining, and managing existing activities on agricultural land and nonindustrial private forest land. The NRCS will make CSP available nationwide on a continuous application basis. The entire agricultural operation must be enrolled and must include all agricultural land that will be under the applicant's control for the term of the proposed contract that is operated substantially separate from other operations. More information can be found at: CSP Program or by contacting the NRCS office in Danville.
 
Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)

The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) is a land conservation program administered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA). In exchange for a yearly rental payment, farmers enrolled in the program agree to remove environmentally sensitive land from agricultural production and plant species that will improve environmental health and quality. Contracts for land enrolled in CRP are 10-15 years in length. The long-term goal of the program is to re-establish valuable land cover to help improve water quality, prevent soil erosion, and reduce loss of wildlife habitat.
Participants can enroll in CRP in two ways. The first is through a competitive process known as CRP General Sign-up. General CRP sign-ups are announced on a periodic basis. The second way to enroll is through CRP Continuous Sign-up which offers on a continuous basis. Accepted practices under the continuous sign-up include: Buffers for Wildlife Habitat, Wetland Buffers, Riparian Buffers, Filter Strips, Grass Waterways, Pollinator Habitat and Shelterbelts.
More information can be found at: CRP Program or by contacting the FSA office in Danville.