Description
The State of Illinois Department of Natural Resources is offering a five‑year lease of approximately 537 acres of state‑owned land at the Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish & Wildlife Area for agricultural use. The lease is structured by crop year (2027‑2031) with a per‑acre rent of $296.32, generating an estimated annual rent of about $159,000. The successful lessee must manage all farming operations, adhere to strict environmental and pesticide restrictions, provide all labor, equipment, insurance, and submit detailed agronomic and chemical use records each year. The contract also allows limited “acceptable services” in lieu of cash rent, capped at 10 % of lease value or $10,000, provided they are approved in advance.
• Lease term: March 1 2027 – February 28 2032 (5 years).
• Annual acreage: ~537 acres (2027), decreasing slightly each year (533‑527 acres).
• Required deliverables: yearly lease payments, annual tax receipts, chemical/fertilizer/seed logs, soil‑test results, and proof of liability insurance.
• Restrictions: No neonicotinoid‑treated soybean seed, no Dicamba, no fall tillage unless approved, and no sub‑leasing.