Section 760.150  Submittal of Written Application – "Rivers-Friendly Farmer" Designation

a)         In accordance with Section 15 of the Illinois Rivers-Friendly Farmer Program Act [505 ILCS 106/15], a farmer seeking the "Rivers-Friendly Farmer" designation may submit a written application to the Department.  The application shall be made on forms prescribed by the Department.  Application forms shall be made available at each local SWCD office or at the Department.

b)         Completed application forms shall be signed by the applicant and provide the following information:

1)         Applicant name and address;

2)         Applicant telephone number;

3)         Legal description of all the land areas included in the present farm upon which the application is based;

4)         Certification statement from the applicant that all the soil loss on all cropland areas included in the present farm is at or below the tolerable soil loss levels (T values);

5)         Certification statement from the applicant that an approved farm conservation plan is on file at the local SWCD;

6)         Certification statement from the applicant that, if the farm has a vegetative filter adjacent to a body of water, the strip was constructed in accordance with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Technical Guide; and

7)         Evidence of participation in various conservation-related programs, including, but not limited to, the CRP, CREP, EQIP, or Conservation 2000 CPP, or the farm's cropland is located either wholly or partially within an established Agricultural Area.

c)         All farmland in Illinois is eligible for the Illinois Rivers- Friendly Farmer Program.