📢 ❗ ACTION ALERT TIME: Help support a bold slate of legislation to address the needs and barriers that Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) farmers in Illinois face. This Friday is the committee deadline for many of these bills. Take action:

secure.everyaction.com/2C-xUODB-kOnwD…

Can you make a 30-second phone call & help our friends at the Greater Chicago Food Depository ensure there is funding for the Illinois Farm to Food Bank Program this year? Get a 30-second phone script for you to read & connect to your policymaker! chicagosfoodbank.quorum.us/campaign/58592/

Take action today and urge your lawmaker to support the Fair Credit for Farmers Act (FCFA) to ensure equitable treatment in lending and appeal processes for farmers.
ilstewards.org/urge-your-legi…

Check out our livestream getting ready to start from the Statehouse, announcing the recipients of the first round of Local Food Infrastructure Grant Funds here: facebook.com/ilstewards

Tune in tomorrow at 10:30am on our Facebook page for our press conference from the Capitol. Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton and Director of IL Department of Ag, Jerry Costello, will help celebrate the first $2 million in funding being awarded to recipients of the Local Food Infrastructure Grant.

The Alliance has launched a strategic planning process that will inform our goals, guide decision-making, and ensure we leverage our resources to make a powerful impact. Please provide your input on the programs and services that matter most to you here: survey.zohopublic.com/zs/J9COGR

🪱🌱DAY #2 OF #ilsoilhealthweek kicks off with Soil That Rocks: Natural Carbon Capture on Farmland presented by Yale University. Learn how you can capture carbon on farmland using a natural mineral soil amendment in place of limestone. Register here:
secure.everyaction.com/KGwkgQJphk-lxi…

🚀It's launch day for #ilsoilhealthweek !
At 11am join the Alliance, Illinois SWCDs, IEC, Illinois Soybean Association, & American Farmland Trust as they review legislation on the table that provides long term $$$ IL needs to protect soil, water, & climate. Register here:
secure.everyaction.com/ZLuL3F3V60emXL…

👀the incredible lineup of events our partners have put together to celebrate #ilsoilhealthweek , March 4th-10th! See the full calendar & register for all the in-person & virtual events that interest you + join us for Soil Health Lobby Day in Springfield!
ilstewards.org/soil-health-we…

We have many in-person and virtual events coming up to celebrate Soil Health Week, March 4th - 10th!
One of those in-person events is the 2nd Annual Southern Illinois Soil Health Symposium. Register for this & other events here:
ilstewards.org/soil-health-we…

It's #CSAWeek ! Does your farm have a CSA program or do you support a farmer that has one? Tell us about it here: forms.gle/9MTmzWvGPbjG6A… We'd love to help you promote your farm!! 🚜🍅

📰Illinois farmers are advocating for change in the #farmbill to address inequality, racial injustice, climate resilience & access to nutritious food. The Justice for Black Farmers Act aims to rectify historic discrimination & support farmers of color.🗞️🔗
chicagotribune.com/2024/01/31/wit…

Shout-out to Alliance Member Natasha Nicholes (far left in photo) from We Sow We Grow | Growing Gardeners Globally for rockin' an interview from Capitol Hill with WBEZ last week during the Farm Bill Fly-In. Check it out: one.npr.org/?sharedMediaId…

We have several new positions that have been posted on our Food & Farms Job Board. Opportunities working with our friends at Chicago Food Policy , The Land Connection, and Green City Market. Check them out: ilstewards.org/food-farm-job-…

We need to ensure farming is sustainable for future generations.

That's why it was great seeing the Illinois Stewardship Alliance in DC to talk conservation, local food policy, and more.

I'm taking what I learn from our local producers and bringing it to the House Agriculture Committee.

👉❗️REMINDER: 1-week left to apply for the Local Food Infrastructure Grant! With $1.8 M available, LFIG will invest in critical infrastructure to scale up processing, aggregation, & distribution of local food. Proposals due 1/31/24
Apply here: illinoislfig.org

Illinois NRCS is piloting a new program, ACT NOW, to streamline application approval for federal working lands conservation programs. If your app meets the ranking criteria, you could have conservation finding in as little as 2 weeks! More info here: nrcs.usda.gov/.../illinois/a…

Hey BIPOC farmers! 👩🏿‍🌾🧑🏾‍🌾Our friend RepSonyaHarper is hosting a free event on Thur, Dec. 28th at 5pm in Hopkins Park for farmers, ranchers, & forest landowners who experienced discrimination by USDA in its farm loan programs prior to 1/1/21. For more info: [email protected]

Did you miss the informational webinar on the new Local Food Infrastructure Grant program? The recording is now available for you to view online at your convenience!
youtu.be/gGGIUEaApPQ
The deadline for applications is Jan. 31st!

At least 12 grants will be awarded next year to small farms, processing facilities and food businesses to invest in infrastructure. Applications for the Illinois Local Food and Infrastructure Grant program are available until Jan. 31: bit.ly/488sPAE #FWN