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PROPOSED PREVIOUSLY APPROVED ITEM AMENDMENT
Department: Department of Resource Management
Request: Amend item to authorize the sowing of additional types of agricultural crops on Forest Preserves land, subject to the approval of the Director of the Department of Resource Management
Item Number: 22-0423
Fiscal Impact: Potential revenue generation of up to $138,240.00 over the remaining three (3) years of the contract (unchanged from original board item)
Account(s): Corporate Land Use Fees 51001.411366 (revenue generating)
District(s): 15
Original Text of Item: PROPOSED CONTRACT
Department(s): Department of Resource Management
Vendor: Walnut Grove Farms, Steven Heinsohn, Kirkland, Illinois
Request: Authorization for the Forest Preserves of Cook County (the “Forest Preserves”) to enter into and execute
Good(s) or Service(s): Row crop farming at the Arthur Janura/Poplar Creek preserves
Contract Value: N/A
Contract Period: 1/1/2023 - 12/31/2023, with four (4) one-year extension options to be exercised at the discretion of the General Superintendent or their designee
Estimated Fiscal Impact: Revenue generation of up to $230,400.00 over five (5) years
Accounts: Corporate Land Use Fees 51001.411366 (revenue generating)
Contract Number(s): #74000011239 issued under Project #22 RM 115
Concurrences: The Chief Financial Officer has approved this item. Final contract is subject to legal review and approval.
District(s): 15
Summary: The Forest Preserves has solicited a contract for row crop production at select sites which were historically used for agricultural purposes prior to acquisition by the Forest Preserves, and as such, do not exist in an ecologically natural state. Farmers will have use of the property for seeding one or more of the following row crops: including wheat, oats, industrial hemp, soybeans, and/or corn and/or other crops subject to the review and written approval of the Forest Preserves’ Director of the Department of Resource Management. This practice allows the Forest Preserves to generate revenue, while at the same time preventing invasive plant species from overtaking fallow land. It is the Forest Preserve’s intention to restore fallow land as capacity and funding allows, and these interim farming practices are a good method to keep lands in a more manageable condition until a restoration project can take place, thereby reducing future restoration costs. The contract term for row crop farming is a period of one (1) year, with four (4) one-year mutual renewal options to be exercised by the General Superintendent or their designee, which allows the Forest Preserves the option to discontinue farming practices at our discretion in order to restore these lands to a natural condition.
Walnut Grove Farms / Steven Heinsohn was the sole bidder for the Arthur Janura/Poplar Creek preserves row crop site, for a total potential revenue generation over the next five (5) years of $230,400.00. This site will be farmed as certified organic.
Site Acres Revenue
Arthur Janura/Poplar Creek 576 $230,400.00
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