S.T.A.R. is an exciting program developed by soil and water conservation professionals that offers farm operators and land owners a simple, free, and confidential tool to evaluate their conservation land management practices. The goal of S.T.A.R. is to encourage the…
Read more
Most conservation programs require a burn plan and open burning permit to be on file prior to a controlled burn. Although the district doesn’t write burn plans, our staff can connect landowners with an agency or technical service provider who…
Read more
Nitrate levels have been rising in Illinois’ drinking water. Shallow rural wells are particularly vulnerable to nitrate contamination. Nationally, 20% of these wells have exceeded the level considered safe by the U.S. EPA. Public water utilities are required to test…
Read more
The object of this award is to provide recognition to an outstanding conservationist in the Coles County Soil and Water Conservation District that exemplifies Total Resource Management. It is open to all landowners and/or operators who are soil and water…
Read more
Do you farm or own ground in the Embarras River Watershed? We want your input to identify resource concerns and solutions to aid with the update of the Embarras River Watershed Plan. When: Thursday, January 23, 2020, from 8:00-10:00 AM…
Read more
To all owners and occupiers of lands lying within the boundaries of Coles County Soil and Water Conservation District: Notice is hereby given that an election will be held on the 6th day of February 2020 from 7:00am to 5:30pm…
Read more
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture is opening signup for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) on December 9, 2019. The deadline for agricultural producers to sign up for general CRP is February 28, 2020,…
Read more
Although it may not feel like spring outside yet, we are anticipating warmer weather and that means gearing up to teach Coles County’s third graders all about trees this Arbor Day! Every third grade classroom that we visit will be…
Read more
This free tool was designed by the Champaign County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) to motivate those making cropping decisions to use the “best management practices” that will ultimately meet the goals of the Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy…
Read more
SPRINGFIELD, IL – Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) announced a fall cover crop discount program for acreage in Illinois planted to cover crops in the fall of 2019 that will be planted to an insurable crop in 2020. The program…
Read more