13 Dean family by new cattle barn. 4.5% FY2017 Livestock Related EQIP Practices 19.4% 45.2% 7.5% 9.6% 13.8% Mortality Management Facility Roofs & Covers Manure Facility Closure Manure Storage Facility Manure Transfer Other fig. 8 REAL WORLD According to NRCS data, between 2013 to 2017, Illinois allocated between $10 to $13 million to farmers every year. (See fig. 7.) Adding in the cost-share that farmers invested increases the amount of total investment in environmental improvement projects to approximately $12.5 to $16 million per year. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2017, 59 percent of the total EQIP funds in Illinois were spent on livestock-related projects. This amounted to a total of approximately $10 million invested: $7.8 million of EQIP funds, plus $2 million of farmers’ cost share.17 Types of projects funded were new manure storage facilities, roofs and covers for feedlots, and facilities to manage animal mortalities. (See fig. 8.) In addition, more than $86,000 was invested to help farmers develop Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plans (CNMPs). STATE OF THE ART BARNS FOCUS ON COW COMFORT AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY DEAN FAMILY – LEROY, ILL. The Dean family has a long history as a successful family business for more than 100 years. Rick and Barb and their son, Derek, along with Randy and Chris and their son, Brack, are partners in Dean Bacon & Beef, raising corn, soybeans, hay, pigs and cattle. In 2015, the Deans built a new state-of-the-art barn, and utilized EQIP funding to decrease their environmental impact. “ We were scrutinized by IDOA during the construction process and had to meet stringent NRCS engineering requirements for the new barns. This ensured that we met high environmental standards, and built better barns for the cows and the people caring for them. The barns will allow us to better utilize the nutrients in the manure as fertilizer for our crops. It’s a very sustainable and environmentally friendly system.” – Rick Dean fig. 8: Illinois NRCS EQIP data (FY2017).