USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service in Florida wants farmers and ranchers in the Escambia River, Blackwater River and Middle Suwannee River watersheds to know financial assistance is available to reduce soil erosion, improve water quality and develop wildlife habitat through the Gulf of Mexico Initiative.
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Gainesville, Fla. May 18, 2015 – Farmers and ranchers in the Escambia River, Blackwater River and Middle Suwannee River watersheds can apply for financial assistance until June 19 to reduce soil erosion, improve water quality and develop wildlife habitat through USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service Gulf of Mexico Initiative for fiscal year 2015. And this year the initiative has included new focus areas in those watersheds where agricultural producers can apply for assistance.
Parts of Suwannee, Madison and Lafayette counties are included in the Middle Suwannee River watershed, and five new focus areas have been added to where landowners can apply for financial assistance. Parts of Escambia and Santa Rosa counties are included in the Escambia and Blackwater river watersheds, where eight new focus areas have been added to where producers can apply for assistance.
Landowners can view maps to see if their property lies within one of the designated areas. Financial assistance is available through Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).
Practices include:
• Installing grade-control structures to stabilize eroding gullies
• Implementing precision agriculture to reduce chemical application overlap and protect sensitive environmental areas
• Adopting residue and tillage management, cover crops and conservation crop rotations to reduce sheet and rill erosion and improve soil organic matter, which results in cleaner runoff and improved water quality
• Planting grass and trees to stabilize eroding areas
• Installing cross-fences and watering facilities to facilitate grazing distribution
• Controlling cattle access to streams to improve water quality and stream bank stability
• Planting and managing native plant species to improve wildlife habitat and assist with restoration of a multitude of declining species
• Promoting energy conservation by eliminating the need for annual mechanical removal of sediment from split ditches
• Implementing grazing management
• Installing heavy-use area protection pads
“This effort will improve the health of the Gulf Coast region by producing cleaner water, more abundant wildlife and healthier fisheries,” said Russell Morgan, Florida state conservationist.
The initiative helps agricultural producers in Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas improve water quality and ensure sustainable production of food and fiber. NRCS and conservation partners developed the initiative in response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill to restore the waters, shores and wildlife populations along the Gulf Coast.
For more information about signing up for the initiative, contact your local NRCS office.