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

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.