(TALLAHASSEE, FL/NSF/Feb. 10, 2022) — Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday opposed a controversial Senate budget bill that critics say could affect Everglades restoration. But Senate President Wilton Simpson, R-Trilby, defended the bill as protecting restoration efforts, including a massive reservoir. Members of the Senate Appropriations Committee on Wednesday approved the bill (SB 2508), which drew opposition from environmentalists, charter boat …
Signup Now for Expanded Conservation Program Opportunities
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is offering several new and expanded opportunities for climate-smart agriculture in 2022. This includes availability of the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) Conservation Incentive Contracts option and a Climate Smart Agriculture and Forestry Initiative. These improvements to NRCS’ working lands conservation programs, combined with continued program opportunities across the …
Applications Being Accepted for RCPP Funding
In January, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announced up to $225 million will be made available for conservation partners through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). It is a partner-driven program that leverages collective resources to find solutions to address natural resource challenges on agricultural land. NRCS Chief Terry Cosby notes this year’s funding announcements include opportunities for projects that address climate …
The Initiative to Incentivize Climate Smart Ag and Forestry
A USDA initiative could soon establish its framework for research and testing to help producers and landowners establish incentives for climate smart agriculture and forestry practices. According to a story from Rod Bain, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says current USDA programs have great potential to incentivize producers and landowners to undertake these practices. Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsNovember 1, 2024Nuseed …
USDA Announces Conservation Reserve Program Signups for 2022
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced that agricultural producers and landowners can now sign up for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). USDA calls CRP a key tool in the Biden-Harris Administration’s effort to address climate change and achieve other natural resource benefits. The General CRP signup begins today, January 31, and remains open through March 11. Then the Grassland CRP …
USDA Investing in Partner Driven Conservation in Georgia
The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently announced up to $225 million in funding for conservation partners through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) is being made available. RCPP is a partner-driven program that leverages collective resources to find solutions to address natural resource challenges on agricultural land. This year’s funding announcements include opportunities for projects that address climate change, benefit historically underserved …
Applications Due Tuesday for Cover Crop Initiative in Georgia
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Georgia wants to remind agricultural producers about several new and expanded opportunities for conservation programs that lend to climate-smart agriculture production in fiscal year 2022. Among these is the Cover Crop Initiative (CCI), but signup for this ends January 25, 2022. CCI incentivizes the use of cover crops on Georgia’s agricultural land, and the counties …
USDA-NRCS in Florida Web Conference is Next Week
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Florida would like to remind producers and landowners across the state that they will be conducting a State Technical Committee meeting via web conference on Wednesday, January 26, from 10:00 am-12:00 pm Eastern. The NRCS meeting, which is open to the public, will provide a report for natural resource and program priority decisions and they …
Environmental Groups Wary of Senate ‘Heartland’ Plan
(TALLAHASSEE/January 18, 2022) — Florida lawmakers could further carve up the use of voter-approved conservation money, after a Leon County circuit judge this month rejected a challenge by environmental groups to how money has been spent. The Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee on Tuesday approved a measure (SB 1400) that would provide $20 million a year to help protect …
USDA Expanding Access to Conservation Assistance
Last week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced they were investing $50 million in 118 partnerships to expand access to conservation assistance for climate-smart agriculture and forestry. The Equity Conservation Cooperative Agreements, administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), will fund two-year projects to expand the delivery of conservation assistance to farmers who are new to farming, low income, socially disadvantaged or military …