USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announced it is extending the deadline for public comments on proposed revisions to 23 national conservation practice standards. Comments on the proposed revisions, which were published March 9, are now due April 22.
NRCS is encouraging agricultural producers, landowners, organizations, Tribes, and others that use its conservation practices to comment on these revisions. They will use public comments to further enhance its conservation practice standards. The proposed revisions to the 23 conservation practice standards are available on the Federal Register. Comments can be made through regulations.gov or by mail.
“By extending the deadline as requested by customers, we hope to collect as much input as possible to ensure that the standards used to carry out these conservation practices are relevant to local agricultural, forestry, and natural resource needs,” said Juan Hernandez, NRCS State Conservationist in Florida.
The 2018 Farm Bill required NRCS to review all 169 existing national conservation practices to seek opportunities to increase flexibility and incorporate new technologies to help the nation’s farmers, ranchers, and private forest landowners better protect natural resources on their working lands. In 2020, 57 conservation practice standards were updated after public review and are available at nrcs.usda.gov.
Under the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is engaged in a whole-of-government effort to combat the climate crisis and conserve and protect our nation’s lands, biodiversity, and natural resources including our soil, air, and water. Through conservation practices and partnerships, USDA aims to enhance economic growth and create new streams of income for farmers, ranchers, producers, and private foresters. Successfully meeting these challenges will require USDA and our agencies to pursue a coordinated approach alongside USDA stakeholders, including State, local and Tribal governments.