Ag, conservation benefit from budget

A display from a previous Illinois State Fair in Springfield / CIFN file photo.

The state budget, which received bi-partisan support from lawmakers last week, does feature some good news for the departments of agriculture and natural resources.

Over $3 million was appropriated from the tourism promotion fund and county fairs will be receiving $4.7 million, according to State Rep. Tom Bennett of Gibson City.

“That obviously is very important to the ag world here in Illinois,” Bennett told The Central Illinois Farm Network recently.

Of the county fair money, $1.3 million is for fairgrounds rehab. 4-H clubs will receive $780,000 and around $7.5 million is intended for Soil and Water Conservation Districts. Ag education is being funded at $5 million which is identical to last year’s budget.

For the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, $2.6 million will go to the Sparta World Shooting Recreation Complex with $58.6 million appropriated for items which were not funded in previous years.

“A lot of good things have come from this. I am really glad we were able to come together,” Bennett added.