Grazing Lands

USDA Invests in Cooperative Agreements for Conservation on Grazing Lands

Dan Beef, Cattle, Conservation, Dairy, Environment, Livestock, Pasture, USDA-NRCS

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded $12 million in cooperative agreements for 49 projects that expand access to conservation technical assistance for livestock producers and increase the use of conservation practices on grazing lands. The funding is provided through the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative (GLCI). These projects have identified barriers to accessing grazing assistance for producers and …

NACD Leads Letter Supporting Conservation Programs

Dan Conservation, Environment, USDA-NRCS

Earlier this week, the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) and a coalition of more than 50 agriculture and conservation organizations sent a letter to congressional appropriations leaders requesting at least $1.2 billion for Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Conservation Operations and full authorized funding for farm bill conservation programs in Fiscal Year 2024. Nearly 90 percent of NRCS Conservation Operations funding supports Conservation Technical Assistance (CTA), …

USDA Awards CIG Projects in Florida

Sabrina Halvorson Conservation, USDA-NRCS

Last week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced it is investing $40 million this year for 31 new projects through its Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) program, one of the ways USDA brings together partners to develop innovative approaches to climate-smart agriculture. These projects, through USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), will support next-generation conservation efforts on working lands and develop market-based solutions …

NRCS Refines Nutrient Management Strategies

Dan Conservation, Environment, USDA-NRCS

For decades, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has supported producers and landowners in addressing their nutrient management and water quality concerns. And efforts continue to refine strategies as more is learned through data in a recent report on cropland conservation outcomes from their Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP). The report showed that despite many wins in conservation outcomes, there was an increase in soluble nitrogen …

Georgia NRCS Signup Deadline for CSP Funding is Friday

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

Agricultural producers and forest landowners in Georgia looking to build on previous conservation efforts and building climate resiliency should consider one of two funding opportunities available to them this year. But the deadline to apply is Friday, March 31. The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Georgia is offering the statewide Classic Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) sign-up option for all producers in Georgia, as …

NRCS Refines Nutrient Management Strategies

Dan Conservation, Environment, USDA-NRCS

For decades, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has supported producers and landowners in addressing their nutrient management and water quality concerns. And efforts continue to refine strategies as more is learned through data in a recent report on cropland conservation outcomes from their Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP). The report showed that despite many wins in conservation outcomes, there was an increase in soluble nitrogen …

House Looks to Speed Up Land Deals in Florida

Dan Conservation, Florida

(NSF/TALLAHASSEE, FL/March 27, 2023) — A House panel Monday rolled out a proposal that could help speed up land acquisitions for a proposed statewide wildlife corridor by allowing some deals to bypass approval from the governor and Cabinet. The House Agriculture, Conservation & Resiliency Subcommittee backed the proposal (PCB ACR 23-01), which, in part, would allow the Department of Environmental …

Signup for Conservation Incentive Contracts in Florida Ends Friday

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

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Florida wants interested producers to know the signup for new Fiscal Year 2023 funding for Conservation Incentive Contracts (CIC), through the Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) ends Friday, March 24. EQIP-CIC expands resource bene?ts for Florida producers through incentive conservation practices. This includes wildlife management, cover crops, nutrient management, conservation crop rotations, prescribed grazing and more. EQIP-CIC …