Illinois quick hits: Ag incentives announced; Cook County announces increased budget

By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
The Center Square

Ag incentives announced

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and the Illinois Department of Agriculture have announced $67 million in funding to offer cost-share/financial incentives to producers and landowners who implement no-till or strip-till starting in the fall of 2025.

The program intends to promote the implementation of no-till and strip-till via the Partners for Conservation Program and the State of Illinois Priority Climate Action Plan.

CWD testing results by phone

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources will use a new automated notification system to relay chronic wasting disease test results to deer hunters, starting with the current deer season.

Hunters who provide provide a mobile phone number with their CWD sample and have a valid email address linked to their “ExploreMoreIL” account will receive text and email notifications of test results.

The check CWD test results website is still available to hunters regardless of whether they receive text or email notifications.

Cook County announces increased budget

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle has unveiled a proposed $10 billion budget recommendation for Fiscal Year 2026.

Preckwinkle said the budget does not include layoffs, tax increases or cuts to essential services.

Cook County’s budget increased from $5.2 billion in fiscal year 2018 to $9.94 billion for 2025.