27AL2212 Sam Dale Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area Farm Lease

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is soliciting bids for agricultural farming services on state-owned property near Sam Dale Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area under IFB 27AL2212, with bids due November 25, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. A mandatory pre-submission conference is scheduled for October 27, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. at the Sam Dale Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area site office, 620 County Road 1910 North, Johnsonville, Illinois, with virtual attendance available via WebEx.

The scope encompasses 89.80 acres divided into eight field parcels under a six-year cropping plan (2026–2031) requiring lessees to follow a specified rotation of corn and soybean production with annual acreage allocations varying between approximately 25.10 and 64.70 acres per crop per year. Lessees must plant and maintain cover crops on a minimum of 40 acres annually using approved seed species and specified planting and termination dates. The lease prohibits double cropping, neonicotinoid-treated soybean seed, and Dicamba herbicide application; Atrazine use must strictly adhere to label directions. Lessees may fulfill cash rent obligations through acceptable services including chemical and fertilizer application, field work, drainage structure maintenance, wetland development, and timber stand improvement, with compensation rates based on University of Illinois or Iowa State University Extension custom rate surveys. Lessees must provide irrevocable letters of credit to secure cash rent and real estate tax payments and maintain soil test levels according to specified phosphorus and potassium standards. The IDNR provides access to cover crop financial assistance through USDA NRCS (EQIP and CSP), Illinois Department of Agriculture programs, and American Farmland Trust initiatives.

All bidders must submit a Vendor Disclosure or active Illinois Procurement Gateway registration, an Offer to the State of Illinois, a completed contract document, and Attachment G (Equipment List). Bidders liable to pay leasehold taxes on current IDNR agricultural leases must provide copies of paid taxes or documentation showing non-delinquency. Bids must remain firm for 90 days from opening. No bid or performance bonds are required. The state reserves the right to amend, reject any or all bids, and waive minor defects. Contact Melanie Dodd at Melanie.N.Dodd@Illinois.gov or 217/524-1308 for inquiries.