Cook County Farm Bureau Receives Pollinator and Nutrient Stewardship Grants to Support its Effort in Conservation
Committed to protecting Illinois’ resources and the environment through farmer-led, locally-developed programs, Illinois Farm Bureau awarded grants for nutrient stewardship and pollinator projects to county Farm Bureaus, including Cook County Farm Bureau.
The Environmental Stewardship Grants support the education, outreach, and implementation for nutrient management and pollinator restoration, providing direct funding to support county Farm Bureau projects.
The Cook CFB Nutrient Stewardship Grant project continues its support of research on utilization of struvite (magnesium ammonium phosphate) as a slow-release phosphate fertilizer that could be used to minimize nutrient loss. Expecting to publish paper with struvite proposed as a best management practice to reduce nitrogen and phosphorus losses. Cook CFB will also host urban field days with specialty growers.
The Nutrient Stewardship Grant program is part of Farm Bureau’s ongoing commitment to furthering the state’s Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy (NLRS). The program was developed to engage all levels of Farm Bureau in the NLRS. Projects have focused on four priority areas: education, research support, support for farmer implementation, and communication of progress toward the long-term goals of the Illinois NLRS.
Cook CFB’s Pollinator Conservation Grant project includes continuing its partnership with the Lincoln Park Zoo and developing a new partnership with Global Gardens and the Chicago Park District to provide signage and field day support for a new pollinator park and urban garden site.
The Pollinator Conservation Grant Program provides Farm Bureaus and farmers with opportunities to engage in locally led pollinator projects.