USDA recently awarded projects funding to expand technical assistance within cooperative agreements under its Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative (GLCI). Rod Bain has more details.
NACD Leads Letter Supporting Conservation Programs
Earlier this week, the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) and a coalition of more than 50 agriculture and conservation organizations sent a letter to congressional appropriations leaders requesting at least $1.2 billion for Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Conservation Operations and full authorized funding for farm bill conservation programs in Fiscal Year 2024. Nearly 90 percent of NRCS Conservation Operations funding supports Conservation Technical Assistance (CTA), …
Application Rates of Manure as a Nutrient Source Vary by Crop
Data from USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) shows the use of manure as a nutrient varies by type of crop. Between 2013 and 2019, producers of seven major crops in the U.S. who used manure were asked how much manure they applied per acre, allowing ERS to estimate crop nutrient application rates. Corn received the highest application rate of nitrogen …
USDA Awards CIG Projects in Florida
Last week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced it is investing $40 million this year for 31 new projects through its Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) program, one of the ways USDA brings together partners to develop innovative approaches to climate-smart agriculture. These projects, through USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), will support next-generation conservation efforts on working lands and develop market-based solutions …
Vilsack Requesting More Money to Work on the PFAS Situation
The Secretary of Agriculture is requesting more money in next year’s budget to do more work on the PFAS situation. Gary Crawford has more details.
NRCS Refines Nutrient Management Strategies
For decades, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has supported producers and landowners in addressing their nutrient management and water quality concerns. And efforts continue to refine strategies as more is learned through data in a recent report on cropland conservation outcomes from their Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP). The report showed that despite many wins in conservation outcomes, there was an increase in soluble nitrogen …
Georgia NRCS Signup Deadline for CSP Funding is Friday
Agricultural producers and forest landowners in Georgia looking to build on previous conservation efforts and building climate resiliency should consider one of two funding opportunities available to them this year. But the deadline to apply is Friday, March 31. The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Georgia is offering the statewide Classic Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) sign-up option for all producers in Georgia, as …
NRCS Refines Nutrient Management Strategies
For decades, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has supported producers and landowners in addressing their nutrient management and water quality concerns. And efforts continue to refine strategies as more is learned through data in a recent report on cropland conservation outcomes from their Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP). The report showed that despite many wins in conservation outcomes, there was an increase in soluble nitrogen …
House Looks to Speed Up Land Deals in Florida
(NSF/TALLAHASSEE, FL/March 27, 2023) — A House panel Monday rolled out a proposal that could help speed up land acquisitions for a proposed statewide wildlife corridor by allowing some deals to bypass approval from the governor and Cabinet. The House Agriculture, Conservation & Resiliency Subcommittee backed the proposal (PCB ACR 23-01), which, in part, would allow the Department of Environmental …
A Remarkable Boost in Funding for USDA Conservation Next Year
The USDA conservation budget for next year could see what the Agriculture Secretary calls a “remarkable” increase. Gary Crawford has more details.