Kara Downin, Knox County SWCD — Three May 1 deadlines and a bioreactor project back on track

If you farm in Knox County, own land, or just love your yard, Kara Downin has something for you — and most of it has a deadline this Friday. Downin is a Resource Conservationist with the Knox County Soil and Water Conservation District. She joined Galesburg's Morning News Monday with details on three May 1 deadlines, an upcoming event for women in agriculture, and news that a water quality project put on hold by the federal shutdown is back on track. Topics covered in this interview: Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Batch 2 applications — due Friday, May 1. The program pays landowners to remove marginal or hard-to-farm land from crop production and plant it into native grasses, pollinator habitat, or wetlands on 10- or 15-year contracts. Native plant plug sale — pre-orders due Friday, May 1. Monarch-friendly perennial plugs including milkweed, coneflower, black-eyed Susan, and native grasses at $6 each. Pickup in early June. Native seed sale — pre-orders with payment due Friday, May 1. Multiple mixes available for pollinator habitat, steep slopes, and large acreage. Women and the Land: Spotlight on Conservation — Friday, June 26, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Wataga Fire Station. RSVPs due Monday, June 22. Open to women landowners, producers, and anyone involved in the agricultural community. Bioreactor pilot grant project — back on track after a federal shutdown pause. Eight bioreactors planned for the Henderson Creek watershed in Knox and Warren counties. Contractor bids due May 20. Pre-bid Zoom meeting Wednesday, April 29 at 10 a.m. Contact the SWCD office for details.   To place native plant or seed orders, or for CRP application assistance, contact the Knox County Soil and Water Conservation District. Order forms are available on the district's website and Facebook page, or by calling the office. For the Women and the Land event, contact the Knox County SWCD to RSVP. Details and a flyer will be posted on the district's website once finalized. Contractors interested in the bioreactor project should contact the SWCD office for design documents and the pre-bid Zoom link.