partnership

USDA Investing Climate-Smart Agriculture and Forestry

Dan Climate Change, Conservation, Drought, Environment, Florida, Forestry, USDA-NRCS

forestry

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced they are providing $10 million to support climate-smart agriculture and forestry through voluntary conservation practices in 10 targeted states. This includes Florida and Georgia.

The assistance, available through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), will help agricultural producers plan and implement voluntary conservation practices that sequester carbon, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate the impacts of climate change on working lands.

Producers can apply for this funding opportunity, through USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). While NRCS offers a broad array of conservation practices, the agency identifies a sub-set as critical for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, sequestering carbon and ultimately mitigating the impacts of climate change. These climate-smart conservation practices will be prioritized in this targeted EQIP signup period and support systems for:

  • Building soil health
  • Improving nitrogen management
  • Improving livestock waste management systems
  • Enhancing grazing and pasture management
  • Improving agroforestry, forestry and upland wildlife habitat

Visit the NRCS EQIP webpage for a list of the specific climate-smart conservation practices. Producers and landowners in Florida and Georgia are encouraged to work with their local NRCS office to begin the application process.