On the Radio: Conservation Districts Sound Alarm on Budget Cuts and Future of Illinois Farmland

SPRINGFIELD -- Illinois’ Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs) are facing mounting financial and operational pressures that could jeopardize their ability to protect farmland, public health, and the environment, warned Eliot Clay, Executive Director of the Association of Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts (AISWCD), during a WTAX Radio interview on Friday, June 13.

SWCDs, Clay said, are the “boots on the ground” in conservation, ensuring that Illinois’ extensive row crop agriculture — covering about 75% of the state’s land — is managed responsibly. “We’re making sure that the resources that support [agriculture] are protected, but also that it’s being utilized in a way that is protecting the environment and public health,” he explained.

But state funding for the districts has fallen far short. Although technically unchanged from last year’s budget, the allocation represents a sharp decline from funding levels of two years ago when districts received almost double the current amount. Each of Illinois’ 97 districts now receives about $40,000 — barely enough to support a single employee with benefits. “Ideally, they’re supposed to have two people, and that is near impossible,” Clay said. “It’s just going to mean personnel cuts in some of these districts.”

Compounding the strain, Clay said proposed federal budget cuts and potential consolidation of USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service offices — many of which share space with SWCDs — could leave some districts without even basic facilities. “If they go that route, there’s a real chance that we could be facing things as practical as, do we have office space?” he warned.

Clay noted AISWCD’s attempt to establish an agricultural impact fee as a more stable funding source. The legislation earned broad bipartisan support but was left out of final budget negotiations. “It had a lot of popular support, but unfortunately... the bill was just not adopted in the final package.”

Calling for greater public involvement, Clay urged Illinoisans to contact lawmakers and advocate for consistent conservation funding. “What do we value as a state?” he asked. “Tell them that you care about public health, that you care about the long-term sustainability of agriculture in this state.”

To hear the full interview, visit: Budget Cuts Threaten Future of Conservation Districts.

For more information, visit www.aiswcd.org.