[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6227860,"mediaKeyId","3479052-d5f9f29b461c03ab0eaf406138ae0ecd","parentId",3479052,"title","Kane‑DuPage Soil and Water Conservation District launches LISA committee, plans cover‑crop events and soil‑health outreach","audioSeconds",470,"startMs",4260000,"endMs",4730000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3479052-d5f9f29b461c03ab0eaf406138ae0ecd&start=4260&end=4730","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3479052-d5f9f29b461c03ab0eaf406138ae0ecd/thumbnail_4260000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6227860/Kane-County/Illinois/KaneDuPage-Soil-and-Water-Conservation-District-launches-LISA-committee-plans-covercrop-events-and-soilhealth-outreach","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6227860-7ca56d49cb25f52bdb427c8347b7c359/orig.mp4?Expires=1770443011&Signature=XBz65vXcO6JEYYyOjSHKmPkx1LrW2lpCpZQifk4jV3NgHF8QzZ273ywzCIYBy4ygrkjto7~DTbRT3oXJY8PKhrh9Cl67mEqa6nG4YHfW-tzxPSBUHtIAnaZM9-jEvYG4dyKXcGaKEhB-MUMxIG0FAh0BCtnRXRW~09csPPV9QuBebVkVDa8NRw95hZmkR1dFGhCvTODYze09P9kuPyU10VCzXZRXRp2ztdKemiofzoH5Amti0LymgDaW~lPi3AU3wtXuvav6Wb7Tb9PBsFcT0P1agHlBzYx2jIcTxMs6FDvGmXgxu4gU~Bsit~GZdPFdS9a3RXl4HN53ER8BTLTclA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Kane County, IL","date","2025-05-24T01:44:57.73Z","article","Representatives of the Kane‑DuPage Soil and Water Conservation District told the Kane County Agriculture Committee on May 22 that they have scheduled the first LISA (Land Evaluation and Site Assessment) committee meeting for May 29 and are expanding local farmer outreach with cover‑crop demonstrations and a women‑in‑ag series.

Kat (last name not specified), administrative coordinator at the district, described upcoming programming that includes a cover‑crop field day with a proposed drone seeding demonstration to address northern Illinois’ shortened establishment windows, planned partnership with University of Illinois Extension and Farm Bureau, and a women‑in‑ag speaker series looking for small‑operation presenters. The district said it is offering a soil‑health assessment program to farmers and is meeting with the Kane County Forest Preserve about on‑the‑ground coordination.

Isabella Borzica, senior resource analyst, said she is working with county staff and technical team members to convene the Kane LISA committee and update the LISA score, which was last updated (per her remarks) in February 2004. She explained that the LISA score combines a land evaluation (soil factors, roughly one‑third of the score) and a site assessment that accounts for proximity to economic factors and certain zoning types; she said the site assessment component can lower a parcel’s score when it is close to certain business or residential zoning and that the committee will review whether the scoring should be revised to prioritize cropland viability regardless of location.

Committee members asked about comparing Kane County’s LISA approach with other counties; staff said the committee will review other counties’ practices and return recommendations. The district asked to coordinate further with the Illinois Farm Bureau urban agriculture manager about urban‑ag programming and to recruit speakers and local partners for upcoming events.

No county actions were taken during the presentations; staff indicated further work and committee discussion will follow the May 29 LISA committee meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","KC Agriculture Committee May 22 2025","oneSentenceSummary","District staff said the first Kane LISA committee meeting is set for May 29 to update the Land Evaluation and Site Assessment score; the district also announced cover‑crop demonstrations, a women‑in‑ag program and soil health assessment outreach for farmers.","taxTitle","Kane County, Illinois","taxId",12845,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6227865,"Northern Illinois Food Bank warns proposed SNAP changes would overwhelm charitable network",341,3055000,3396000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3479052-d5f9f29b461c03ab0eaf406138ae0ecd&start=3055&end=3396","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3479052-d5f9f29b461c03ab0eaf406138ae0ecd/thumbnail_3055000.jpg","/articles/6227865/Kane-County/Illinois/Northern-Illinois-Food-Bank-warns-proposed-SNAP-changes-would-overwhelm-charitable-network","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6227865-48310d61e528c84c6fdc82b70a66de82/orig.mp4?Expires=1770443011&Signature=hsOS4XFHgBkEtbEcuvxEei7Zl6n76MmR3NMxTlriEkT7i25m8wbMlS8~gX01phDcBnxWJzQ1Qtdxa1I8S6EajqXX1KQmzugpdeUXLyVW5kfx3znZUrkEnzTxadZWVN9pFibtynLgeKvXFHBJAwL5bq2rfNMFAlx12m4jstjQQagm2YQvbqJqp5Vi8OirwhA4Cth8MPQjESpWRHATseSb1~exnAQGhsXWaxU7Sbof1lgHmfKY2wM~y2Ixfdi8yksp1IaAHrz6unPGv-Kn05g~6Gf6e6EcVPwti7Fv3Gug8AgSyJgNKSK5AHGI9ThKj0ZeWIf5iRL9aa3W-~ElMGT51g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A representative of the Northern Illinois Food Bank told the Kane County Agriculture Committee on May 22 that proposed federal changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) would amount to deep effective benefit cuts that the charitable food network cannot replace.

Robert Desaiho, senior manager of public policy and benefits at the food bank, said the organization is on track to distribute more than 93,000,000 meals this year and estimated that recent USDA cuts already reduced food available to the network by roughly 3.6 million meals and, overall, about 4–5% of the food bank’s total distributed meals. He warned committee members that provisions in a House bill discussed publicly would shift substantial SNAP costs to states through a cost‑sharing formula and would raise administrative matching requirements, saying those changes would be effectively cuts to SNAP benefits.

Desaiho described several features of the proposed changes mentioned in his remarks: an increase in states' required cost share tied to payment error rates; a change in how minor payment errors are counted; and expansions or changes to work requirements for certain adult categories. He explained that SNAP traditionally covers benefits at the federal level while states share administrative costs, and that imposing large state cost shares would be infeasible and would reduce benefit levels. \"Traditionally, SNAP has been 100% federally funded, at least at the benefit level,\" he said, and described the proposed cost‑sharing as effectively a 25% cut in benefits in some scenarios.

Committee members pressed for context and asked how payment error rates work; Desaiho explained that error rates are administrative measures of incorrect payments (not fraud) and that Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) has mitigation programs for states with high error rates. He also stressed that charitable food banks are not scaled to replace SNAP — citing the Feeding America network ratio that for every meal the network provides, SNAP provides nine — and urged donations, volunteers and local support for pantries while warning that SNAP cuts would increase visits and hunger.

Committee members connected the discussion to local food sourcing, the value of fresh produce in health outcomes, and county food‑security efforts. No committee action was taken during the presentation; the food bank representative encouraged local donations and volunteer support.","A senior manager at the Northern Illinois Food Bank told the Kane County Agriculture Committee that proposed federal cuts and cost‑sharing changes to SNAP would force states to cover benefits and could not be offset by food banks; the food bank is already serving more neighbors after pandemic-era changes ended.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6227870,"Kane County moves to study soil health benefits, costs and local food access models",941,1631000,2572000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3479052-d5f9f29b461c03ab0eaf406138ae0ecd&start=1631&end=2572","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3479052-d5f9f29b461c03ab0eaf406138ae0ecd/thumbnail_1631000.jpg","/articles/6227870/Kane-County/Illinois/Kane-County-moves-to-study-soil-health-benefits-costs-and-local-food-access-models","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6227870-dd23a04f2f809a19c1a5d3c7f7a19b4b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770443011&Signature=otHtZbXahK1X2ufhSReMupjOeMPb4wp~t1R0GxskhVEqQ02x0UXI6EfiL0PvtVYljYFPVd0jcJ5L4JSvYAsJuMju6An4hfOOD0AuXrRtl16evvbnFhrgErYCK~6ZJY8eEnkvbyoywh3Wsov6VhqcX8w~fpUOKCd092wj~hLCl04YnYlA5dHZaBsYce1~wLXSRzy7zFMQ41rVdvZVy4PrLurFhnpMgvWwVub5I6skGxbGFqlEgGvDp6794qzGDBf80udPSd-9S3MYhm14lPoQ8UWW5UHAyPZV46UyoP3vTsbs~cFpfgOav-Bvh-3esLMkgN~BNiuK4REFFUkYX99uOw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Kane County staff told the Agriculture Committee on May 22 that the county will initiate a soil health impact and economic assessment and a separate study of local food access models, funded from the 2025 fiscal year budget and intended to guide programs that support local food producers.

Agriculture program staff said the studies were scoped after a 2024 service agreement with New Venture Advisors and will be supported by New Venture Advisors (project management and business analysis) with Delta Institute subcontracted for soil health expertise. County staff said funding is available in fund 400 (economic development) and fund 430 (farmland preservation), both of which receive allocations from the county’s riverboat fund, and that the soil health project was specifically requested in the most recent riverboat funding request.

The soil health assessment is planned to include: a countywide survey of current soil health conditions, soil testing for a selected group of participating farms (county staff mentioned Cornell University’s soil health lab as a potential testing partner), and a business cost‑benefit analysis to model how adopting soil health practices (cover cropping, no‑till, crop rotation, integrating livestock) could affect farm profitability and resilience to extreme weather. Staff also said the study could examine potential public health and broader economic benefits and explore whether soil health practices might influence farmland appraisal values; staff called the appraisal connection an active area of inquiry being explored by the Delta Institute.

The local food access models and strategies study will aim to inventory active food system programs in the region, analyze consumer demand and sentiment, and recommend actions or program options to better connect local producers with community markets — an effort linked to the county’s Growing for Kane initiative and earlier food hub discussions. Staff emphasized they will continue seeking external grants and partners to stretch county funds.

Committee members asked clarifying questions about cover crops and whether specialty crops can function as cover crops; speakers noted cereal rye and winter wheat are common cover crops in Northern Illinois and that specialty crop and annual vegetable producers may also use cover crops where seasonality allows. Staff said a limited number of participating farms will receive soil testing and individualized soil health analyses as part of the project.

No formal motions were required during the presentation; staff said project initiation steps will follow internal procurement and budgeting procedures.","County staff presented scopes for a soil health impact and economic assessment and a local food access models study, funded from the 2025 budget (funds 400 and 430) and to be managed by New Venture Advisors with Delta Institute as a subcontractor.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6227875,"Illinois Farm Bureau’s urban agriculture manager seeks connections for Kane County growers",238,1207000,1445000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3479052-d5f9f29b461c03ab0eaf406138ae0ecd&start=1207&end=1445","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3479052-d5f9f29b461c03ab0eaf406138ae0ecd/thumbnail_1207000.jpg","/articles/6227875/Kane-County/Illinois/Illinois-Farm-Bureaus-urban-agriculture-manager-seeks-connections-for-Kane-County-growers","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6227875-4e568e7d08de0a75712f9b4b66c3ce2b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770443011&Signature=F7qEyxCIvvqJPHgsUTXC67KwHNDlWSvEXkeVIjAurBAQf6jfTvbiE~m-rs-C0gQy1ha5xFqQTb8HpY6G8E7w8QkGOSLautS5aIzyTfJILWXt61SyGLPCxeiYkLr4gLjnsp-fKbMPZDvVJSYb4G5cok25za1xrg8l8ic5kQ1Clv3yPtM3erUA-VFx8z37Crooaq31uGJPDPxFX6OgKmqiUelcgRiEymkzriAldFLiIrr2ZvqKww3f5Xz~LPrHG6oVn5YQQ07Jk4q2iSoaRtH8jUjKmT8l-JhyZH3mfY0uL~e0A-2A78jeDybh34GFgdh9z2WBLoETC-R-Xlth2bKydA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","An Illinois Farm Bureau official told the Kane County Agriculture Committee on May 22 that a new Urban Agriculture program is building a statewide network to connect urban growers, community gardens and food‑access programs with technical and USDA resources.

Liz Repplinger, Urban Agriculture Program Manager with the Illinois Farm Bureau, said she has been in the role about a year and is based in Bloomington. She described the Illinois Urban Growers Network as open to urban farms, community gardens and partner organizations and said the network offers monthly Zoom education sessions on production, business planning and finance. \"We do outreach with this network. We have monthly meetings on Zoom where anyone in the network can join, and receive education on kind of a seasonal relevant topic,\" she said.

Repplinger said the program works in partnership with USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service in Illinois to help connect urban growers to USDA programs. She said the Illinois Farm Bureau is partnering this year with several sites, including Northern Illinois University’s Edible Campus program, to host trainings for urban farmers from across Northern Illinois.

Committee members discussed whether smaller acreage farms near urban areas and community gardens in cities such as Aurora and Elgin fit the program’s definition of urban agriculture. Repplinger and county members noted there is no formal, single definition used locally; the county has seen growth in small acreage farms (under 25 acres) and community garden projects along the Fox River Valley. Committee member Matt (last name not provided in the record) was named as the county point person to stay in contact with the Illinois Farm Bureau program.

Repplinger asked to be connected to Kane County’s Growing for Kane and local food‑access programs; committee members said they would follow up to link local groups to the Illinois Urban Growers Network.","An Illinois Farm Bureau Urban Agriculture program manager presented a statewide network and offered to link Kane County growers, community gardens and food‑access programs to USDA resources and a Northern Illinois hub.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6227880,"Kane County Farm Bureau outlines fundraising events, outreach and member drives",473,708000,1181000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3479052-d5f9f29b461c03ab0eaf406138ae0ecd&start=708&end=1181","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3479052-d5f9f29b461c03ab0eaf406138ae0ecd/thumbnail_708000.jpg","/articles/6227880/Kane-County/Illinois/Kane-County-Farm-Bureau-outlines-fundraising-events-outreach-and-member-drives","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6227880-a4b9c129d69def6af8681c813a084791/orig.mp4?Expires=1770443011&Signature=STXelI1v405fJhPXs3jh7AXKm0xN~lY3Xyff2J5t7cIusIrK3Cy9Uwgn~EIrnHWPUxQMqn~b59ffkRrxMyax7x8ECWZrn6Y0QaVZgIL0mt5GELTRvI3A8ZVgE5xWEynmGajpIyjqtkpNfit~c-Mi8P16E4nz~NdYKM0I4J2O5lEDw5vJQ~OX0w0MkdI7anvxlqpiVTfenGxJHaOej0-lXIBAFy0PjqJb9BChrtoQmP2UE391yxtPcxx4r3CSpFR6GcKITk-~7G~mopGUcrReA-GfpdyLFOs2OEIYUqneFUqTgcyJTria~MLf8LK5laym13u0cKzXCLRzDtBdRHTNgg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Kane County Farm Bureau representatives told the Kane County Agriculture Committee on May 22 that the organization is stepping up outreach and fundraising after recent recognitions and is helping landowners understand a proposed pipeline project.

The update came from a Farm Bureau representative, who thanked the committee and county board for recognizing local farmer Steve Pitsdick with a Prairie Farmer magazine \"master farmer\" honor and described a new fundraising push that pairs weekly drive‑through barbecues with a vintage truck raffle to raise college scholarship money.

The committee was told the Farm Bureau mailed materials to local businesses outlining the foundation's friend‑raising and fundraising events and invited members and county officials to an appreciation event at Aqua Viva Winery in Batavia on June 10. The Farm Bureau representative described a punch‑card promotion: customers who purchase 20 barbecue meals from scheduled drive‑through events (thursdays in June through August) and submit the completed card by Oct. 1 will receive a free raffle ticket for the vintage truck drawing.

The Farm Bureau representative also reported an informational meeting for about 30 landowners about the ANR Heartland pipeline, described as running north‑south roughly along the Dalberman Road corridor, where attendees were given right‑of‑way maps and information on retaining counsel for easement negotiations. The Farm Bureau said it is assessing whether administering the county’s farmer weatherization grant program through its foundation would speed distribution and reduce reporting burdens; the topic has been under review by county counsel.

Vice President Beth Gerke, who farms in Plato Township, thanked the committee for its partnership and emphasized farm safety and road patience during spring and fall equipment movements. The Farm Bureau representative also described a membership outreach strategy with a QR code on promotional materials directing people to a website sign‑up form.

Committee Chair Leslie Juby and members asked no formal questions beyond logistical clarifications and encouraged continued partnership between the county and the Farm Bureau.

The committee accepted the report and later voted unanimously by consent to place committee reports on file, as recorded in committee actions for the meeting.","Representatives of the Kane County Farm Bureau updated the county Agriculture Committee on recent recognitions, a new drive‑through barbecue fundraising campaign tied to a vintage truck raffle, and outreach to landowners about the ANR Heartland pipeline.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Kane‑DuPage Soil and Water Conservation District launches LISA committee, plans cover‑crop events and soil‑health outreach

Northern Illinois Food Bank warns proposed SNAP changes would overwhelm charitable network

Kane County moves to study soil health benefits, costs and local food access models

Illinois Farm Bureau’s urban agriculture manager seeks connections for Kane County growers

Kane County Farm Bureau outlines fundraising events, outreach and member drives