The American Farm Bureau Federation is one of many agriculture groups calling on the Biden Administration to act responsibly when it comes to conservation. Biden’s goal to conserve at least 30 percent of U.S. land and water by 2030, commonly known as “30X30,” is raising many questions. A letter to the administration makes three key requests: that the administration provides …
Dr. Hugh Hammond Bennett: Sparked the Creation of a Conservation Agency
Today’s farmers, ranchers, and private forest landowners are better prepared to maintain healthy and resilient soil due to the tireless efforts of Dr. Hugh Hammond Bennett, the Soil Conservation Service’s (SCS) first Chief and the Father of Soil Conservation, born 140 years ago on April 15, 1881. A maverick and visionary, Bennett knew that productive soils would help farmers, ranchers …
USDA Extends Deadline for Comments on Proposed Revisions
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 …
Coalition Asks for Increased Conservation Funding
Seventy of the top agriculture, conservation, and wildlife groups delivered a letter to Congress last week asking for robust funding for conservation programs and technical assistance for the fiscal year 2022. In the letter, groups like the American Farmland Trust, the National Association of Conservation Districts, and many others called on House and Senate appropriators to provide necessary robust increases …
USDA-NRCS Extension for CSP Renewal Applications Closes April 7
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) wants to remind producers they are accepting Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) renewal applications until April 7 for contracts set to end later this year. The original deadline was March 31, but last week they announced it had been extended one more week. So producers with existing CSP contracts that close Dec. 31, 2021, can benefit from recent program changes …
Deadline Extended for CSP Renewal on Contracts Set to Close
Wednesday, March 31 was the deadline that USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) had set for accepting Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) renewal applications. But, that date has been extended one week, with the new deadline now being April 7. This is for participants with existing CSP contracts that close on December 31, 2021. Participants with existing CSP contracts that close at the end …
CSP Applications are Due April 2 in Georgia
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Georgia reminds producers the deadline to apply for the fiscal year 2021 Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) funding is April 2, 2021. While applications are accepted throughout the year, interested producers should submit applications to their local NRCS office by the deadline to ensure they are considered for 2021 funding. Through CSP, NRCS helps farmers, ranchers, …
UF Researchers Use AI Datasets to Track Feral Pigs, Minimize Disease Risk
University of Florida scientists are using artificial intelligence (AI) to track feral hogs’ reproduction and how they spread pathogens on Florida’s grazing lands. Feral pigs cost the agriculture industry at least $1.5 billion in damage, disease, and control costs around the United States annually. They run rampant on large swaths of grazing lands. The swine root in the soil and …
CSP Application Deadline in Florida is Friday
Here’s a reminder from USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Florida that the deadline to apply for the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) is Friday, March 26. While applications are accepted year-round, those interested in CSP need to submit applications to their local NRCS office by the deadline to ensure they are considered for 2021 funding. Through CSP, NRCS helps agricultural producers and forest landowners …
Florida NRCS Accepting CSP Renewal Applications Set to Close
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Florida wants to remind producers they are accepting Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) renewal applications through March 31 for contracts set to end this year. Those with existing CSP contracts that close Dec. 31, 2021, can benefit from recent program changes by renewing their contracts for an additional five years if they agree to …