from The News Service of Florida Gov. Rick Scott on Tuesday signed a priority of Senate President Joe Negron that will allow the state to bond money for a controversial reservoir intended to help clean South Florida waterways. The measure (SB 10) was one of 11 bills that Scott signed into law. The water bill allows Florida to bond up …
Landowners Encouraged to Learn More about CSP
We’ve been talking the past few weeks about how landowners with existing Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) contracts were being encouraged to renew those. But for those of you who do not have a CSP contract, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Acting Chief Leonard Jordan encourages you to learn more about the program and how it can benefit your operation. Sponsored …
Soil Health Partnership Urges Farmers to Take USDA Survey
Whether you are a longtime advocate of cover crops—or have never even considered using them—the Soil Health Partnership is encouraging all farmers to participate in the USDA’s 2017 Cover Crop Survey. In its fifth year, the survey helps the USDA’s Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program understand why farmers choose to use cover crops, or the reasons that they don’t. …
Response to Environment and Climate Change Canada’s paper on Clean Fuel Standard
Growth Energy and the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) joined the U.S. Grains Council (USGC) in submitting comments in response to Environment and Climate Change Canada’s (ECCC) Discussion Paper on a Federal Clean Fuel Standard (CFS). Representatives of the three organizations just completed a visit to Canada to discuss that country’s newest environmental initiative with regulators and industry and share details …
Renewal Sign-up Deadline for Expiring CSP Contracts is Friday
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) wants to remind landowners with existing Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) contracts that expire on December 31, the contract renewal sign-up deadline is this Friday, May 5. And even if you are not involved in CSP, NRCS Acting Chief Leonard Jordan, says they made several updates to the program last fall to help producers better evaluate …
NACD Applauds Appropriations Bill in Support of Conservation
Congress is expected to pass an appropriations bill this week that for the remainder of this fiscal year would provide strong support for many of the voluntary conservation programs that millions of landowners nationwide utilize to protect and improve America’s water quality, soil health, and wildlife habitat. “NACD is very pleased that House and Senate appropriators have finally reached an …
Environmental Budget Talks Falter
by Brandon Larrabee, News Service of Florida Negotiations between the House and Senate about funding for environmental and water programs imploded Saturday, as talks over a new state budget moved up the ladder ahead of a Tuesday deadline. A visibly irritated Sen. Rob Bradley, R-Fleming Island, announced Saturday that he would ask for all of the issues that once separated …
Request from the Florida Conservation Group
With time running out on the 2017 Florida legislative session, the Budget Conference Committee is in negotiations to finalize the final details of the budget. But there are concerns with some in agriculture that the budget does not include funding for conservation easements. And Southeast AgNet Tallahassee Intern, Josie Tomkow, talked with their Vice Chairman, Jim Strickland, who is asking …
Renewal Options Available for Expiring CSP Contracts
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) wants to remind landowners with existing Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) contracts, the renewal sign-up deadline is coming up May 5. NRCS Acting Chief, Leonard Jordan, says participants with existing CSP contracts that expire on December 31 can access the benefits of the recent program changes through an option to renew their contracts for an …
Lobbyist Backs Away From Florida Forever Comments
From: News Service of Florida Eric Draper, executive director of Audubon Florida and a prominent environmental lobbyist, released a statement Tuesday walking back concerns about a House measure that would alter the distribution of money for land conservation. Draper said he was wrong Monday to link a House bill (PCB GAC17-06) that would change the state’s Florida Forever land-conservation program …