According to a new U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) report, the use of no-till, crop rotations, more efficient irrigation methods and advanced technologies have climbed in recent years. The report, from USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), demonstrates progress made through voluntary conservation over a 10-year period. The report titled, “Conservation Practices on Cultivated Cropland: A Comparison of CEAP I and CEAP …
Senator Asks for Delay in CRP Sign-Up Deadline
The Senate Agriculture Committee’s Ranking Member, John Boozman of Arkansas, wrote a letter to Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack asking for a delay in the deadline for farmers to sign up for CRP. With inflation at a 40-year high and global food prices reaching a new record last month, Boozman wants the administration and USDA to look at ways of increasing …
USDA NRCS in Florida Accepting Applications for EQIP Urban Agricultural Initiative
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced applications are now being accepted from Florida urban agricultural producers for Urban Agriculture and Innovation Production (UAIP) projects. These projects are under the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), which offers producers technical and financial assistance to address resource concerns on their land. “Urban agriculture projects can help improve nutrition and food access and increase …
New Cogongrass Campaign Addresses Threat to Alabama
The Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI) has initiated a new social media campaign to raise awareness of the dangers cogongrass poses to the state. With agriculture and natural ecosystems at risk, ADAI is calling on Alabamians to recognize this threat and share the information. This is all due to the fact the noxious weed has now infested more …
NRCS in Georgia Announces Conservation Stewardship Program Sign Up
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Georgia has announced they are accepting applications from agricultural producers and forest landowners for the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP). Producers and landowners looking to build on conservation efforts while strengthening their operation can apply for technical and financial assistance through CSP. CSP provides many benefits, including increased crop yields, decreased inputs, wildlife habitat improvements and increased …
NRCS Offers Conservation Funding Opportunities
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) wants producers and landowners to know there are various fiscal year 2022 assistance opportunities available for key programs. This includes the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) and the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). NRCS Chief Terry Cosby says while there are batching period signups that take place from time to time, they …
Impact Farmers Make When It Comes to Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions
The huge impact farmers have been making when it comes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Since 1990, the United States population has increased 31-percent, from roughly 250 million to 329 million in 2019. With more people comes the need for more food. And, more food production could also mean more greenhouse gas …
Center Providing Plant Management Solutions for the Southeast Region
The center providing plant management solutions for the Southeast region. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. The Jimmy Carter Plant Materials Center is one of a national network of 25 centers dedicated to providing vegetative solutions, and developing and transferring plant science technology to solve conservation issues. Located in Americus, Georgia, it’s one of four centers serving the Southeast …
Expanded Conservation Program Opportunities Available in Alabama
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Alabama wants to remind landowners about several new and expanded opportunities for climate-smart agriculture in 2022. Updates include availability of the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) Conservation Incentive Contracts option and a Climate Smart Agriculture and Forestry Initiative. But, applications for this round of funding will only be accepted through Friday, February 25th, 2022. …
Urban Agriculture Conservation Program Sign up Underway in Georgia
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Georgia recently announced an urban agriculture focused sign up through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). This targeted sign up is for farmers in Fulton, Gwinnett, and Henry counties, who are interested in producing local, healthy, sustainable food for their communities. EQIP is a voluntary conservation program which helps producers make conservation work for them. …