27AL2280 Harry "Babe" Woodyard State Natural Area Farm Lease

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is seeking bids for agricultural farming services on approximately 98 to 102.60 acres at Harry "Babe" Woodyard State Natural Area in Vermillion County near Oakwood, with bids due November 18, 2026, and a pre-bid conference scheduled for October 20, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. Central Time via Webex.

The lease requires ecologically sound farming practices that promote wildlife habitat, soil health, water quality, and recreational opportunities. The scope includes cultivation of soybean, corn, sunflower, and wheat in rotation with cover crops across ten field parcels. Lessees must develop and implement a cropping plan, maintain detailed records of all chemical, fertilizer, and seed applications, provide yield monitor data from harvesting equipment, and comply with soil testing requirements in the fall of the second and fourth lease years. The lease prohibits use of neonicotinoid-treated soybean seed and Dicamba herbicide; violations result in immediate termination. Prior written approval from IDNR is required before applying any insecticides, herbicides, or fungicides. No subcontracting is permitted except for planting and termination of cover crops and bailing of hay. Lessees must personally farm the leased lands.

The contract term runs from March 1, 2027 (or upon execution by the IDNR Director, whichever is later) through July 30, 2032, with no renewal options. Pricing is submitted on a per-acre basis; the total contract price is firm and award is based on lowest total bid sum across all contract years. Annual acreage varies from 13.90 to 102.60 acres. Lessees must guarantee annual lease payments by March 1st each year through prepayment or irrevocable letter of credit, with remaining payments due half by July 15th and half by December 15th. Lessees are responsible for all leasehold taxes and must provide paid tax receipts by December 15th annually. General commercial liability insurance of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 annual aggregate, auto liability of $1,000,000 per occurrence, and workers' compensation insurance as required by law must be maintained, with certificates submitted within 30 days of execution and annually thereafter. Vendors with active Illinois Procurement Gateway registrations may claim Illinois Business Preference and Domestic Product Preference.