By TIM ALEXANDER

Illinois Correspondent

URBANA, Ill. — Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner recently released $5 million from the 2018 state budget to support programs by the University of Illinois extension. This brought the total to $15 million allocated to the program by the state in the past month. Rauner traveled to Stremsterfer Farms in Pleasant Plains, Ill., June 18 to pledge the additional $5 million to extension, following the release of $10 million to the program, including $8.35 million to match contributions from county boards, in May.

The $5 million allocated for extension by Rauner was part of $16 million in agriculture grants he said will also fund soil and water districts, county fairs and agricultural societies. Illinois Agriculture Secretary Raymond Poe, who also traveled to Pleasant Plains for the announcement, said funding for all of the organizations comes at a critical time. “We must continue to fund these organizations in order to sustain their key programs,” Poe said. “I want to thank our agricultural partners for commitment to Illinois agriculture and for their cooperation in these fiscally challenging times.”

A bipartisan coalition of state lawmakers including Sen. Scott Bennett (D-52) and Chapin Rose (R-51) are credited with securing the release of $10 million for extension in May, after the colleagues worked with their caucuses, leadership and state officials to ensure the funding. The funding was crucial because although extension was budgeted to receive funding by the governor and legislature in fiscal years 2017 and 2018, it had not received a payment since 2015.

“I am deeply grateful for the bipartisan efforts that were made to release this funding, and especially thank Senators Rose and Bennett for bringing this issue to the attention of other lawmakers in Springfield,” said Kim Kidwell, dean of the U of I College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, which administers extension. “This funding allows us to get back on track with matching contributions from counties to fund essential programming in their areas.”

The May payment includes $1.2 million for Cook County programs, and almost $500,000 toward youth education that will support 4-H programs. An additional $3.4 million in state funds budgeted for extension in 2017 and 2018 fiscal years have yet to be disbursed, according to the U of I College of ACES.

More than 1.5 million Illinois residents take part in programs offered by the U of I extension, including programs helping farmers to improve agricultural practices and the environment. It also provides learning opportunities for youth, adults and elders.

GOV. BRUCE RAUNER (left) shakes hands with University of Illinois extension director Aaron Dufelmeier at Stremsterfer Farms. Rauner and others traveled to the Pleasant Plains farm on June 18 to announce an additional $5 million to support extension's core programming.

(Courtesy of Univ. of Illinois)