Clinton County Soil & Water Conservation District

05/28/2026

Our office is in the process of designing the new SPECIAL EDITION PLAT BOOK for 2027. If you would have any interest in sponsorship please contact the number below or email the office at [email protected] to request an order form.

05/19/2026

As of now our 2023 plat books our mark down to $15 a book!

05/19/2026

😄We have some exciting news for 2026! 😃We now have hand tools and power tools available for rent. You have to sign a release waiver form to use these products. They are ready to help assist you with your day to day activities,gardens, and warm weather fun!! ! Come by the office and check out our new Tool Library!

05/04/2026

The application for our FLASH Batch and Grow Cover crop program is now open. Deadline for applications is June 10th.

Please visit our website for more infomation or contact Southern Illinois Farmers for Soil Health FLASH Progam (SoIL):
Jill Vonder Haar [email protected]

04/20/2026

*UPDATED PICK UP DATE*
TREES HAVE BEEN ORDERED: they arrived a day early. Since we have so many, the trees are coming in boxes. I will spend tomorrow organizing the trees to your specific order with the hope it all goes smoothly.
PICK UP DAYS: APRIL 21st( TUESDAY) AND APRIL 22nd (WEDNESDAY.
PICK UP HOURS: WE WILL BE OPEN FOR PICK UP FROM 8AM TO 4:30 PM.

EXTRA TREES: we will have extra trees left roughly about 18. They will be available for purchase.
REFUNDS: if you asked for a refund involving PIN OAK trees, we will have it ready for you at the office as well.

If these times do not work for you please contact the office ASAP. We will not be in the office on Friday due to an event.

Thank you so much

04/15/2026

Dear Friends of Conversation in Clinton County,
We are reaching out to you today for your support in our Locally Led Conservation involvement of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), you are invited to participate in our Conservation Needs Assessment for our Clinton County District.
The first step in this process is the Conservation Needs Assessment. This assessment should provide a comprehensive evaluation of the condition of the area’s natural resource base and will be the platform for making decisions about local priorities & policies for conservation programs delivered at the local level. This assessment and other contributing factors work together to identify conservation systems and practices needed to achieve broad goals and objectives to address these concerns. This process can help provide opportunities to examine new sources of assistance & new players to help meet these conservation goals, ultimately creating a foundation upon which local conservation efforts can be based & focused. It is also an important step in representing local stakeholders' interests when it comes to national Farm Bill programs.
The Soil & Water Conservation Districts lead the effort to gather this public input from a broad range of agencies, organizations, businesses, & individuals in the local area who have an interest in natural resource conditions & needs. The public concern for Conservation is crucial.

04/06/2026

!JUST A REMINDER! This is the last week to turn in order forms for our Spring Tree Sale. Order forms are due Friday April 10th. 😀

🌳BARE ROOT TREE SALE🌳

For Spring 2026 we have launched a bare root tree sale. This is a perfect opportunity for conservation and tree enthusiasts in the Clinton County Area. Each tree has been chosen to succeed in Wetland, Prairie, or a Grassland Environment.
We have order forms in our office ready to be filled out or they are on our website. Order forms are due APRIL 10,2026 along with payment
We accept check by mail or drop off and credit card payments in OFFICE ONLY.

Clinton County Soil and Water District looks forward to seeing the trees around the county

03/27/2026

LETS STAY CONNECTED!!

If you would like to become part of our new email/mailing list please take the time to fill out this quick microsoft form.

03/27/2026

IDOA LAUNCHES I-COVER PROGRAM
Pre-enrollment opens April 1, with opportunity to apply April 15
SPRINGFIELD, IL – The Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) is relaunching the Infield
Conservation for Operationalizing Vital Ecosystem Resilience (I-COVER) Program to promote
the early establishment of cover crops using new techniques and/or technology.
IDOA secured a $7 million USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) Regional
Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) grant to launch the program, which offers costshare/financial incentives to producers and landowners who are new adopters of cover crops or
who utilize new techniques for earlier establishment of cover crops. I-COVER is a three-year
program for cover crops planted in 2026, 2027, and 2028.
The program was paused last summer out of an abundance of caution to protect the financial
interests of farmers as federal funding was mired in uncertainty. IDOA refused to ask farmers to
invest in the I-COVER program without knowing definitively that they would be reimbursed.
State officials have since worked with USDA NRCS to re-open this critical program, continuing
the state’s commitment to soil health initiatives. All applicants who applied under the previous
program period will be required to submit a new application to be considered for funding.
“Research shows cover crops strengthen soil health, reduce erosion, improve resilience during
drought, and help manage pests, weeds and diseases,” said Jerry Costello II, Illinois Director
of Agriculture. “This program incentivizes farmers to protect and preserve Illinois soil, which is
among the most fertile in the world.”
Pre-enrollment and applications are available online. Visit the IDOA website at agr.illinois.gov/
and select the I-COVER Program link on the home page.
Pre-Enrollment Opens 8 a.m. CDT, Wednesday, April 1, 2026
Program Opens (Applications can be submitted) 8 a.m. CDT, Wednesday, April 15, 2026
Program Closes 11:59 p.m. CDT, Friday, May 1, 2026
The following rates will be available to selected applications for the following practice scenarios
for each of the three years of the program. Scenario rates vary based on species number and type.
• $61.13/acre for one or more cover crop species, winter killed
• $85.65/acre for single cover crop species, spring terminated
• $105.40/acre for one or more cover crop species, spring terminated
IDOA will select applications on a first-come, first-served basis per county, such that the first
application per county will be prioritized, pending qualification and verification. If there are
remaining program funds after the first application per county is verified, the second application
per county will be prioritized, pending qualification and verification, and so on.
IDOA may establish and implement an acreage cap, if needed, to accommodate at least one
application per county. IDOA will verify applications and respective acreage, and local Soil and
Water Conservation District (SWCD) staff will check selected applicants’ USDA Farm Bill
eligibility, work with applicants on conservation planning, verify practice implementation, and
assist with payment and reporting documents. Program viability is subject to availability of
federal funds.
A copy of the CCC-902, FSA Subsidiary Report and Producer Farm Data or proof of control of
the land will be needed, if the applicant is selected.
Acres must not be currently enrolled in other state, federal, or private programs that use state or
federal funds to implement cover crops from late summer/fall 2026 through 2028 (e.g. EQIP,
CSP, Fall Covers for Spring Savings or any other program that may include state of federal
funds) and applicants must have control of the land for the life of the program.
For program details, visit the I-COVER Program Rules at
agr.illinois.gov/resources/landwater/i-cover.html or c

Illinois Department of Agriculture FY2025 Partners for Conservation / I-COVER Program Program Dates Coming Soon!