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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, Soil is an essential natural resource, and
3Illinois farmers and professionals play a critical role in
4managing Illinois soil and water resources; and
 
5    WHEREAS, The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
6of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) defines
7soil health as the continued capacity of soil to function as a
8vital living ecosystem that sustains plants, animals, and
9humans; and
 
10    WHEREAS, The implementation of soil health principles
11across the Illinois landscape is not new but has has only
12recently been recognized as an urgent part of the need to
13prevent soil degradation, return organic resources to the
14soil, or composting, protect groundwater used for drinking
15water, and combat climate change; the degradation of soil can
16be rapid, while the formation and regeneration processes can
17be very slow; and
 
18    WHEREAS, The protection of Illinois soils is essential to
19long-term prosperity and sustainability of the soil and water
20resources of our State, counties, and cities, and the six
21basic principles of soil health necessary for that protection
22are to:

 

 

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1        (1) minimize soil disturbance and external inputs,
2including reduced tillage and using compost as a beneficial
3product to increase soil organic matter;
4        (2) maximize plant and microbial diversity;
5        (3) maintain the presence of living roots;
6        (4) keep the soil covered, including with cover crops
7and crop residue, to armor the soil;
8        (5) integrate animals into land management, including
9grazing animals, birds, beneficial insects, or keystone
10species, such as earthworms; and
11        (6) incorporate the context of local conditions in
12decision-making, including for example soil type, topography,
13and time of year; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Soil health principles and the associated
15voluntary practices of no-till, cover crops, nutrient
16management plans, and longer crop rotations enhance the
17ability of farmers to meet the non-point source pollution
18goals for nitrate-nitrogen and phosphorus; it is essential to
19reduce the amount of nutrients flowing off of farm fields and
20into our watersheds; with these reduced nutrient losses from
21agriculture lands, which are detailed in the Illinois Nutrient
22Loss Reduction Strategy (NLRS), farmers will be able to meet
23desired outcomes as outlined by the Mississippi River Basin
24Hypoxia Task Force for the Gulf of Mexico; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Soil health principles provide for the reduction
2of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere through the sequestration
3of carbon within the upper reaches of the soil profile; this
4carbon mitigation improves the organic matter content in the
5soil and provides a stable biome for soil organisms, improves
6nutrient transfer from soil to root, and increases water
7infiltration and water-holding capacity; and
 
8    WHEREAS, Despite soil's importance to human health, the
9environment, nutrition and food, feed, fiber, and fuel
10production, there is little public awareness of the importance
11of soil protection; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Illinois soils are some of the best in the world,
13having the ability to sink carbon and reverse climate change,
14grow nutritious food for Illinois communities, and keep
15waterways clean; and
 
16    WHEREAS, It is imperative that the State of Illinois
17actively raise awareness on the importance of soil health and
18promote its stewardship to safeguard this resource for future
19generations of Illinois citizens; therefore, be it
 
20    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
21HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
22we declare March 3 through March 9, 2024 as Illinois Soil

 

 

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1Health Week in the State of Illinois; and be it further
 
2    RESOLVED, That we encourage the celebration of Soil Health
3Week and its related activities to increase the awareness of
4Illinois farmers, eaters, and those involved in agribusiness
5of the importance of the air and water quality environment for
6all citizens of this State; and be it further
 
7    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
8delivered to the Director of the Department of Agriculture,
9the Office of the Governor, the Chair of the Illinois Senate
10Agriculture Committee, and the Chair of the Illinois House
11Agriculture & Conservation Committee.