27AL2026 Moraine View State Park Farm Lease

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is seeking bids for agricultural farming services on approximately 215 to 237 acres of state-owned property adjacent to Moraine View State Recreational Area near Leroy under solicitation 27AL2026, with bids due November 18, 2026, and a pre-bid conference scheduled for October 22, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. CST via Webex.

The lessee must operate under IDNR's conservation agriculture program emphasizing soil health, erosion control, and water quality. The six-year cropping plan (2027–2032) mandates rotation of corn, soybeans, Clearfield sunflowers, and cover crops, with cover crop acreage ranging from 40 to 78 percent annually. Sunflowers must be planted at approximately 29,000 seeds per acre by May 1, and cereal rye cover crops must be established between mid-August and end of September in corn fields. All corn and soybean crops must be harvested by October 31 annually. Neonicotinoid-treated seed and Dicamba herbicide are prohibited. The lessee must maintain soil pH, phosphorus, and potassium at IDNR standards, obtain prior agency approval for pesticide applications and service projects exceeding $10,000 or 10 percent of lease value, and submit chemical application records and yield monitor data.

Compensation is structured as annual per-acre cash rent over five years (2027–2031), with acreage ranging from 215.50 to 217.90 acres. The lessee must prepay full annual rent by March 1 or provide an irrevocable letter of credit, pay all leasehold property taxes by December 15, and guarantee half the annual payment by July 15 with the balance by December 15. Alternatively, approved services (field preparation, fertilizer application, drainage repairs, timber work) valued at University of Illinois or Iowa State University custom rates may offset up to a portion of cash payments, subject to IDNR approval.

The lessee must carry General Commercial Liability ($1 million per occurrence, $2 million aggregate), Auto Liability ($1 million per occurrence), and Worker's Compensation insurance. The contract term runs March 1, 2027, through February 28, 2032, with no renewal options. Vendors must complete Illinois Vendor Disclosure Forms (Forms A or IPG Active Registered Vendor Disclosures) and submit a Certificate of Liability Insurance template. No small business, minority-owned, women-owned, or veteran-owned business set-asides apply.