The Illinois Sustainable Ag Partnership (ISAP) brings together diverse member organizations who work collaboratively to encourage the adoption of sustainable and profitable production practices that improve soil health and restore local waters.

The Illinois Sustainable Ag Partnership recently released a new resource to connect Illinois farmers with programs offering financial incentives for conservation practices. The Financial Incentives Database, or FIND Tool, includes information for over 60 financial incentive programs available to Illinois farmers who want to implement conservation practices. Users are able to filter the list based on location, production type, and conservation practice they are interested in adopting. Detailed information for each program includes farm eligibility, payment estimations, contracting details, and technical requirements.

By listing the program information side-by-side, the FIND Tool allows farmers to compare programs and select options that are best for their operation. Each program page includes a link that takes users directly to the program site for specific details.

“ISAP heard from farmers, conservation professionals, and farm advisors that the number of programs and all the different details are confusing to sort through. We thought it would be great to be able to see all of that information in one place,” said Jean Brokish, American Farmland Trust Midwest deputy director and ISAP treasurer. “So ISAP created the Financial Incentives Database to address that need.”

The FIND Tool was developed with funding from the Illinois Soybean Association Checkoff Program. “We’re committed to connecting Illinois soybean growers to resources that support profitable grain production while protecting soil and water quality, resource resiliency, and land stewardship,” said Deanna Burkhart, producer and field services administrator for the Illinois Soybean Association. “Illinois Soy is proud to be a leading member in the Illinois Sustainable Ag Partnership and to support the creation of valuable tools for Illinois farmers.”

Farmers and their advisors can access the FIND Tool and find the program that’s best for them by visiting www.ilsustainableag.org/findtool. ISAP and its members aim to provide farmers with transparent and practical information to increase their confidence in evaluating incentive payment opportunities. ISAP does not endorse any particular program or company included in the database.

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 As a coordinated and consistent group, Illinois Sustainable Ag Partnership (ISAP) focuses on messaging, outreach, training and education for farmers and their trusted advisers to bring together and disseminate new information and lessons learned in plain, practical language.

Members work collaboratively to amplify the programs of each organization, share resources to gain efficiencies and identify synergies in achieving soil health and nutrient goals. ISAP’s mission is to create a network to support a systems approach on agriculture lands to improve soil health and reduce nutrient loss.

ISAP’s members include: Agriculture Drainage Management Coalition, American Farmland Trust, Association of Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts, Illinois Central College, Illinois Certified Crop Advisers, Illinois Corn, Illinois Land Improvement Contractors Association, Illinois Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever, Illinois Soybean Association, Midwest Dairy, Precision Conservation Management, University of Illinois Extension, The Nature Conservancy, The Wetlands Initiative, and The Zea Mays Foundation