conservation

Fiscal Year 2024 Soil Survey Cooperative Research Priorities

Dan Environment, Soil, USDA-NRCS

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) plans to invest in partnerships to promote and fund research that informs and improves soil surveys at the national level. It is all part of an ongoing effort to continue to provide critical data to the country, and partners are encouraged to prepare proposals. Each of the 2024 Cooperative Soil Survey Research Proposals must include significant …

nrcs

NRCS Seeking Public Comment on Conservation Practices

Dan Cattle, Conservation, Environment, Livestock, Pasture, USDA-NRCS, Water, Wetland

USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is seeking public comment on proposed revisions to eight national conservation practice standards. Proposed revisions to the national conservation practice standards include: Comments should be submitted via regulations.gov or via mail by March 4, 2024. NRCS regularly reviews all national conservation practices to seek opportunities to increase flexibility and incorporate new technologies to help the nation’s farmers, ranchers, and private …

conservation

USDA to Train Future Conservation and Climate Leaders

Dan Climate Change, Conservation, Environment, USDA-NRCS

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced a new effort to train the next generation of conservation and climate leaders. As part of the American Climate Corps (ACC) initiative, the Working Lands Climate Corps (WLCC) will provide technical training and career pathway opportunities for young people, helping them deliver economic benefits through climate-smart agriculture solutions for farmers and ranchers across the …

Climate-Smart Easements

Record Investment in Private Lands Conservation

Dan Agricultural Conservation Easement Program – Wetland Reserve Easements (ACEP-WRE), Conservation, Environment, Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), USDA-NRCS

It was announced Tuesday that the Biden Administration made record investments in private lands conservation in fiscal year 2023. This was all through resources made available by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), with the largest investment in climate action.  In fiscal year 2023, USDA supported more than 45,000 conservation contracts, more than any year in the 89-year history of USDA’s Natural Resources …

csp

CSP Sign-up is Underway in Georgia

Dan Conservation, Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), Environment, Georgia, USDA-NRCS

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service in Georgia (NRCS-GA) has announced sign-up for the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) is underway. Agricultural producers and forest landowners looking to build on previous conservation efforts and building climate resiliency should consider one of two funding opportunities available to them this year and apply by March 8. “The Conservation Stewardship Program continues to help our customers invest in more …

nrcs

Sign Up Continues for NRCS Programs in Florida

Dan Conservation, Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), Environment, Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Florida, USDA-NRCS

USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service in Florida (NRCS-FL) continues to accept applications for two of their flagship programs, the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP). NRCS Chief Terry Cosby talks about climate smart conservation practices and the partnership between landowners and NRCS technical staff to put these practices into action.  Learn more about these and other programs that could benefit your …

usda

Apply Now for RCPP in Alabama

Dan Alabama, Conservation, Environment, Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), USDA-NRCS

USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service in Alabama (NRCS-AL) wants to remind landowners in eligible watersheds it is accepting applications for the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). The eligible watersheds are located within Blount, Etowah, Jackson, Jefferson, Madison, Marshall, and St. Clair counties. The Nature Conservancy in Alabama plans to reduce sedimentation, pollution, nutrient runoff, and other stresses within several waterbodies in …

water

USDA Investing in Food Waste Reduction Projects

Dan USDA-NIFA, USDA-NRCS

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced it is investing approximately $11.5 million in agreements that support innovative, scalable waste management plans to reduce and divert food waste from landfills. The Composting and Food Waste Reduction (CFWR) cooperative agreements, which are funded by the American Rescue Plan Act, are part of USDA’s broad support for urban agriculture. The program is jointly …

nrcs

USDA Boosting Farm Conservation Efforts

Dan Conservation, Environment, USDA-NRCS

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) continues to make historic investments in conservation and climate change programs. For fiscal year 2024, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has $3 billion in Inflation Reduction Act funds to invest in climate-smart mitigation activities. This year, NRCS expanded the list of those activities as well as expanded priority areas for grasslands, wetlands and farmlands at risk of …

Climate-Smart Easements

Georgia Producers Encouraged to Apply for USDA Conservation Programs

Dan Agricultural Conservation Easement Program – Wetland Reserve Easements (ACEP-WRE), Conservation, Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), Environment, Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Georgia, USDA-NRCS

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service in Georgia (NRCS-GA) is encouraging agricultural producers and forest landowners in the state to participate in voluntary conservation programs and adopt climate-smart practices in fiscal year 2024. NRCS continues to accept applications for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) and Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP), which help a wide variety of producers, including urban and organic producers. For …