Landowner Conservation Programs in Southern Illinois

Category 1 of 5

Working Lands Programs

You keep farming or running cattle. These programs pay you to make conservation improvements on land that stays in agricultural use. The work is reimbursed after it passes inspection.

USDA · NRCS

EQIP

Environmental Quality Incentives Program

Reimburses 50 to 75 percent of costs for conservation practices on working agricultural land. Ponds, drainage structures, streambank protection, grassed waterways, brush clearing, and access roads all qualify. The most widely used program in Southern Illinois for the type of earthwork we build.

50-75% reimbursement
after NRCS inspection

Full Guide →

USDA · NRCS

CSP

Conservation Stewardship Program

Annual payments over a five-year contract for adding or improving conservation activities on land that already has some conservation in place. Designed for producers who are already doing things right and want to do more. Does not require new construction, though eligible activities can include it.

Annual payments
5-year contract term

Guide Coming

USDA · NRCS

RCPP

Regional Conservation Partnership Program

NRCS partners with local organizations to direct funding toward specific conservation concerns in a targeted geographic area. Funding and eligible practices vary by active partnership agreement in your county. Check with your NRCS office whether an active RCPP agreement covers your area.

Varies by
active partnership

Guide Coming

Category 2 of 5

Land Retirement Programs

You take marginal or sensitive land out of production. In exchange, FSA pays annual rent for the contract term, typically 10 to 15 years. Some programs also cost-share the initial planting or cover establishment.

USDA · FSA

CRP

Conservation Reserve Program

Annual rental payments on cropland enrolled in conservation cover for 10 to 15 years. FSA also covers 50 percent of the cost to establish the cover (grass seeding, tree planting, filter strips, riparian buffers). One of the most significant conservation programs in the Midwest. Signup occurs during periodic CRP general signups and continuous practice signups.

Annual rental + 50% cost-share
for cover establishment

Guide Coming

USDA · FSA

Grassland CRP

Grassland Conservation Reserve Program

A CRP variant specifically for grassland, pasture, and rangeland. Keeps land in grass while still allowing managed grazing and haying. Annual rental payments for 10 to 15 years. A good fit for landowners who do not want to take land completely out of use but want to collect rental income for maintaining permanent grass cover.

Annual rental payments
Grazing permitted

Guide Coming

Category 3 of 5

Emergency Recovery Programs

After a natural disaster, two separate programs help landowners restore damaged farmland and forest. Both require a disaster declaration and have application deadlines that run close to the disaster event.

USDA · FSA

ECP

Emergency Conservation Program

Covers up to 75 percent of the cost to restore farmland damaged by a natural disaster. Storm gullies, debris deposits, severely damaged drainage structures, and emergency grading all qualify. Applied for through FSA, not NRCS. The disaster must have caused damage too severe for normal conservation practices to address. Applications open shortly after a qualifying disaster.

Up to 75% cost-share
Post-disaster farmland

Full Guide →

USDA · FSA

EFRP

Emergency Forest Restoration Program

Mirrors ECP but applies to non-industrial private forest land rather than farmland. Covers debris removal, stand salvage, and site preparation after wildfire, ice storms, tornados, or flooding. FSA administers this program through the same local offices. Disaster declaration required and application deadlines are tight.

Up to 75% cost-share
Post-disaster forest land

Guide Coming

Category 4 of 5

Forestry and Wildlife Programs

Three programs specifically target timber land, forests, and wildlife habitat. Two are federally administered, one is run by the Illinois DNR and carries some of the most accessible cost-share rates available in the state.

Illinois DNR

Illinois FDA

Forest Development and Improvement Act

Illinois DNR covers 75 percent of the cost of timber stand improvement, invasive species removal, and prescribed burning on qualifying forest land. Requires at least 10 contiguous acres of forest. Properties enrolled also qualify for a property tax reduction to one-sixth of cropland assessed value for the duration of the contract. One of the better deals in the state for landowners with timber.

75% cost-share
Property tax reduction included

Guide Coming

USFWS

Partners for Fish and Wildlife

USFWS Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service funds wetland restoration, bottomland hardwood planting, and native prairie establishment on private land. Covers 50 to 100 percent of restoration costs depending on project type and priorities in your area. Agreements are voluntary, long-term (typically 10 years), and do not permanently restrict the land. Contact the local USFWS field office to see what project types are being funded in Southern Illinois.

50-100% restoration costs
10-year voluntary agreement

Guide Coming

USDA · NRCS

HFRP

Healthy Forests Reserve Program

Permanent or 30-year easements on private forest land to protect and restore forest ecosystems. NRCS compensates the landowner for the easement and funds the restoration work. Best suited for landowners with significant forested acreage who want long-term income in exchange for development restrictions. Not a reimbursement program.

Easement payment
Permanent or 30-year term

Guide Coming

Category 5 of 5

Easements and Other Programs

These programs compensate landowners for permanently or semi-permanently limiting how land is used. ACEP covers wetland restoration at the highest cost-share rates available. REAP is included here though its relevance for most rural land is limited.

USDA · NRCS

ACEP

Agricultural Conservation Easement Program

Two components: Wetland Reserve Easements (WRE) pay up to 100 percent of the cost to restore wetlands and compensate the landowner for the easement value; Agricultural Land Easements (ALE) protect working farmland from development. WRE is the more relevant component for Southern Illinois bottomland and floodplain owners. Permanent or 30-year easements available.

Up to 100% restoration cost
Easement compensation paid

Guide Coming

USDA · Rural Development

REAP

Rural Energy for America Program

Grants and loan guarantees covering up to 50 percent of costs for renewable energy systems and energy efficiency improvements on agricultural operations and rural small businesses. Solar panels, wind systems, and energy audits qualify. Less relevant for most rural landowners than the other programs on this page unless you are running a significant agricultural operation.

Up to 50% grant
Energy systems only

Guide Coming

Program	Agency	Payment Type	Eligible Land	Typical Rate
EQIP Environmental Quality Incentives Program	USDA NRCS	Reimbursement	Agricultural and forested private land	50-75% of practice cost
CSP Conservation Stewardship Program	USDA NRCS	Annual Payment	Working agricultural land	Per-acre annual payments
RCPP Regional Conservation Partnership Program	USDA NRCS	Reimbursement	Targeted partnership area	Varies by partnership
CRP Conservation Reserve Program	USDA FSA	Annual Rental	Eligible cropland	Market-rate rent + 50% cover establishment
Grassland CRP Grassland Conservation Reserve Program	USDA FSA	Annual Rental	Grassland and pasture	Annual rental, grazing allowed
ECP Emergency Conservation Program	USDA FSA	Emergency	Disaster-damaged farmland	Up to 75% of restoration cost
EFRP Emergency Forest Restoration Program	USDA FSA	Emergency	Disaster-damaged private forest	Up to 75% of restoration cost
Illinois FDA Forest Development and Improvement Act	Illinois DNR	Reimbursement	10+ acres contiguous forest	75% of improvement cost
Partners FW Partners for Fish and Wildlife	USFWS	Grant	Private wetland, prairie, hardwood	50-100% of restoration cost
HFRP Healthy Forests Reserve Program	USDA NRCS	Easement	Private forest land	Easement value + restoration funding
ACEP Agricultural Conservation Easement Program	USDA NRCS	Easement	Wetlands, working agricultural land	Up to 100% WRE restoration
REAP Rural Energy for America Program	USDA Rural Dev	Grant/Loan	Agricultural operations, rural businesses	Up to 50% of energy system cost

Programs That Fund Land Improvement for Southern Illinois Landowners

Why Most Landowners Only Know EQIP

Working Lands Programs

Land Retirement Programs

Emergency Recovery Programs

Forestry and Wildlife Programs

Easements and Other Programs

Program Comparison

We Build What
These Programs Fund

Programs That Fund Land Improvement for Southern Illinois Landowners

Why Most Landowners Only Know EQIP

Working Lands Programs

Land Retirement Programs

Emergency Recovery Programs

Forestry and Wildlife Programs

Easements and Other Programs

Program Comparison

We Build WhatThese Programs Fund

We Build What
These Programs Fund