(FDACS/TALLAHASSEE, FL/Oct. 17, 2023) — Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson is seeking $300 million for a program designed to keep swaths of rural land from commercial and residential development, triple the amount vetoed by Gov. Ron DeSantis this year. Meanwhile, the Department of Environmental Protection is asking lawmakers for a slight increase next year in funding for the separate Florida Forever …
Hurricane Idalia Disaster Assistance Available for Florida Producers
Florida agricultural operations that were impacted by Hurricane Idalia and related weather events are being reminded there is technical and financial assistance available to help you recover. Producers should contact their local USDA Service Center to report losses and learn more about program options available to assist in their recovery from crop, land, infrastructure and livestock losses and damages. The Natural …
Sign Up Underway for Fiscal Year ’24 NRCS Programs
Two of the flagship programs through USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) are accepting applications for project funding for the new fiscal year. This includes the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP). NRCS Chief Terry Cosby talks about climate smart conservation practices and the partnership between landowners and NRCS technical staff to put these practices into action. Signups for pother NRCS …
Conservation Easement Program Signup Deadline is Friday in Georgia
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service in Georgia (NRCS-GA) wants to remind landowners in the state that Friday, October 6 is the deadline to sign-up for the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) for fiscal year 2024. ACEP has two components, the Agricultural Land Easements (ALE) and Wetlands Reserve Easements (WRE). ACEP-WRE applications are accepted directly from producers on eligible lands. These easements will restore …
Florida Agricultural Landowners Encouraged to Apply for RCPP Land Management and Rentals
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service in Florida (NRCS-FL) is accepting applications for Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). The RCPP is a partner-driven approach to conservation that funds solutions to natural resource challenges on agricultural land. The RCPP promotes coordination of NRCS conservation activities with partners that offer value-added contributions to expand the collective ability to address on-farm, watershed, and regional natural resource concerns. …
FY24 Signup Underway for NRCS Alabama’s Easement and Financial Assistance Programs
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service in Alabama (NRCS-AL) has announced that signups are underway for Fiscal Year 2024 Farm Bill Easement and Financial Assistance Programs. The applicable programs include: More specifically: ACEP–WRE easements provide habitat for fish and wildlife, including threatened and endangered species, improve water quality by filtering sediments and chemicals, reduce flooding, recharge groundwater, protect biological diversity and provide opportunities …
ACEP Applications Due by October 6 in Georgia
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service in Georgia (NRCS in GA) wants to remind landowners and eligible entities that applications for the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) for fiscal year 2024 must be submitted by October 6, 2023. The ACEP, created through the 2014 Farm Bill and reauthorized in the 2018 Farm Bill, is a program that has two components, known as Agricultural Land …
USDA Sees Record Interest in Conservation and Clean Energy Programs
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has seen record interest in the conservation and clean energy programs that received funding from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The IRA made nearly $20 billion available over five years for USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to address continuous high demand for popular conservation programs. This will help farmers and ranchers implement expanded conservation practices …
Funding Opportunities through Conservation Innovation Grants
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) recently announced the availability of $65 million through two funding opportunities to further natural resource conservation on private lands. Through the Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) program, NRCS is being directed to prioritize CIG On-Farm Trials projects that use diet and feed management to reduce enteric methane emissions from ruminants, as well as other projects that have climate …
Conservation Innovation Grant Opportunities Available
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has made available $65 million through two funding opportunities to further natural resource conservation on private lands. It’s all through the Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) program, where NRCS is prioritizing CIG On-Farm Trials projects that use diet and feed management to reduce enteric methane emissions from ruminants, as well as other projects that have climate mitigation benefits. …