In the battle to combat climate change, farmers and governments are turning to alternative energy sources like biochar to help. A product of biomass heated through a process called pyrolysis, biochar is an organic charcoal that not only benefits the environment but improves your soil as well. Due to its impressive ability to sequester carbon […]
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In 2022, the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) returned to the state of Illinois. As part of the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), CREP identifies the highest-priority conservation goals in the state. From there, participants are provided with federal and non-federal funds to carry out Conservation Practices (CPs) to fulfill those goals. Since 2015, enrollment in
What’s New in CREP for Illinois Landowners in 2022 Read More »
With the goal of restoring wildlife habitat, the State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE) Initiative is an integral facet of the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). While CRP focuses on conservation efforts as a whole, SAFE aims specifically to protect vulnerable wildlife species from endangerment and extinction. To do so, it focuses on establishing robust, native
What is the State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE) Initiative? Read More »
When entering a bid for General Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), eligible land is evaluated based on the Environmental Benefit Index (EBI). This comprehensive ranking system is used to measure the overall environmental benefits of your proposed CRP project. Each CRP submission is ranked with an EBI score by the FSA and compared to other applicants
What is an Environmental Benefit Index (EBI) Score? Read More »
In August 2022, bioenergy producer Restoration Bioproducts announced plans to build the first-ever biochar production facility in Sussex County, Virginia. With an investment of $5.8 million, the company will be creating a number of new jobs and buying over 34,000 tons of wood products grown within the state. By establishing this new facility, biochar and
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The USDA recently announced a $197 million investment in local conservation projects through the partner-driven Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). We’re proud to announce that FDCE was one of the recipients of this award and can’t wait to get started with our RCPP project. With the goal of advancing new, innovative conservation projects including efforts
FDCE Awarded USDA Funding Through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) Read More »
On June 14, 2022, the Farm Service Agency (FSA) and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) announced the return of the Illinois Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP). The restoration of this incentive-based program provides an excellent opportunity for Illinois farmers to take advantage of the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) benefits on their land. While
What is the Illinois Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP)? Read More »
To successfully mitigate climate change, alternative energies and sustainable materials like biochar must be integrated into modern agricultural practices. Comprised of organic animal and plant material, biochar is a type of charcoal that can collect and store carbon. Over the past two decades, thousands of studies have shown that the utilization of biochar can positively
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This week, June 20 through June 26, is National Pollinator Week! To celebrate, we’ve highlighted how you can not only help save pollinators from decline but also reap the benefits of attracting these vital creatures to your land. The importance of pollinators The value of pollinators to our ecosystem cannot be overstated. Almost 80% of
It’s National Pollinator Week! Make the Most of Your Pollinators in 2022 Read More »
The environmental benefits of the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) are vast, but one of the most impactful is the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Through CRP practices, 30 million metric tons of CO2 were removed from the atmosphere in 2020, the equivalent of removing 6 million cars from the road. While all CRP practices
CRP Practices to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions Read More »