NIGP 944: Farming and Ranching Services, Animal and Crop

NIGP 944 Farming and Ranching Services, Animal and Crop is a Class code under which state and local governments lease publicly owned agricultural land to private farmers and ranchers operating under multi-year cropping and grazing agreements that emphasize wildlife habitat, soil health, water quality, and conservation compliance. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) dominates recent activity, issuing more than thirty leasing opportunities across state parks, fish and wildlife areas, and natural areas between September and November 2026. Lessees provide all labor, machinery, equipment, seed, fertilizer, and insurance; comply with mandatory crop rotations, cover crop requirements, soil testing, and chemical documentation; and assume responsibility for leasehold property taxes. Core operational restrictions—imposed uniformly across leases—prohibit neonicotinoid-treated seed, Dicamba herbicide, and double cropping, with violations triggering immediate termination. Lessees may offset cash rent through approved in-kind services (equipment operation, field preparation, drainage repair, timber stand improvement) priced at University of Illinois or Iowa State University Extension custom rates, subject to prior approval. Award in the vast majority of recent IDNR leases is made to the responsive and responsible bidder submitting the highest price offer, a reverse-scoring structure prioritizing conservation stewardship over cost minimization. Contract terms run five to seven years with no renewal options. Acreage varies widely, from small natural-area leases under 100 acres to large fish and wildlife operations exceeding 800 acres; annual property-tax liability ranges from approximately $1,200 to $40,000 depending on location and tract size.

IDNR activity concentrates in Illinois, with representative leases including 27AL2558 Chauncey Marsh State Natural Area (84.38 acres, IFB due November 25, 2026), 27AL2212 Sam Dale Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area (89.80 acres, IFB due November 25, 2026), 27AL2004 Wayne Fitzgerrell State Park (721.39 acres, IFB due November 4, 2026), 27AL2242 Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish & Wildlife Area (457–501 acres, IFB due October 28, 2026), and multiple units within Pyramid State Park (27AL2337, 27AL2339, 27AL2340, 27AL2369, 27AL2333, 27AL2334, 27AL2335, 27AL2336, 27AL2381, 27AL2410, 27AL2338, and 27AL2379) spanning pastoral, cropping, and hay-production leases with October to November bid dates. Outside Illinois, Williamson County, Texas posted an IFB for a 225-acre agricultural crop-production lease at Blackland Heritage County Park due September 1, 2026. The City of Owensboro, Kentucky published an RFB for on-call technical services including herbicide and insecticide applications (among 32 service categories) due September 3, 2026, though this listing primarily targets equipment maintenance and repair contractors rather than farming operators. Mandatory pre-bid conferences, WebEx participation, and vendor-disclosure submissions are standard across IDNR leases; all bids remain firm for 90 days from opening, and a $15 Minority Contractor Opportunity Initiative fee applies to awarded contracts valued at $1,000 or more.