R2026-08 Resolution Authorizing a Cash Rent Farm Lease with Craig Hill for Two DeWitt County Farms

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FIRST ILLINOIS AG GROUP January 9, 2026 CITY OF DECATUR FARMLAND Organic Farming Considerations .... This report evaluates the potential implications of transitioning City of Decatur farmland to organic production. The appropriateness of such a transition depends on the City's primary objectives—whether those objectives emphasize maximizing financial return,advancing conservation practices,pursuing organic production,or a combination of these goals. Key Considerations: 1. Limited Presence of Organic Farming in Central Illinois Organic corn and soybean production is not common in Central Illinois.According to the USDA Organic Integrity Database,there are only nine certified organic producers across DeWitt,Macon, and Piatt Counties,with a combined total of 6,866 certified organic acres. Based on the 2022 Census of Agriculture,this represents approximately 1.06% of total cropland in the three-county area,indicating that the pool of qualified organic tenants is extremely limited. Certified Organic Acreage by County: • DeWitt County,IL: 172,097 cropland acres(1,037 certified organic acres) • Macon County,IL: 251,582 cropland acres(3,466 certified organic acres) • Piatt County,IL: 223,408 cropland acres(2,363 certified organic acres) • Total: 647,087 cropland acres(6,866 certified organic acres) 2.Conservation Goals and Tradeoffs The City of Decatur has expressed a desire to promote conservation practices on City-owned farms that could serve as examples throughout the watershed,particularly practices aligned with the Lake Decatur Water Quality Initiative Regional Conservation Partnership Program(RCPP), such as no-till or reduced-tillage farming and the use of cover crops. While organic farming may align with certain environmental objectives, organic systems often rely on mechanical weed control methods such as cultivation and disking rather than chemical controls. If not carefully managed, these practices can increase soil disturbance and potentially lead to higher erosion and sediment loss. In some cases,conventional no-till systems with cover crops may outperform organic systems in erosion control, particularly where frequent tillage is required for weed suppression in organic production.