EPA announced a proposal to overturn decades-long policies regulating farmers’ and ranchers’ use of rodenticides. The proposed changes would enhance current restrictions, create new certifications and trainings, add more requirements to labels, reclassify some products to restricted use pesticides and, if not the most important aspect, presents a major biosecurity risk to farms. A challenging, time-consuming and expensive proposal for …
Virtual Meeting of Committee for Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production is Thursday
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is encouraging urban producers, innovative producers and other stakeholders to virtually attend the fourth public meeting of the Federal Advisory Committee for Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production (Committee) on Feb. 23 from 3:30-6pm ET.? The Committee will discuss recommendations it intends to submit to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to remove barriers to urban and innovative producers and …
Florida Ag Landowners Reminded of Conservation Easement Program Signup Deadline
Florida agricultural landowners interested in protecting their land uses with conservation values are being reminded about a fiscal year 2023 application deadline through the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP). The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Florida is accepting applications for the Wetland Reserve Easement (WRE) component. That sign-up deadline is February 28, 2023. NRCS accepts these applications year-round, but any received after that date …
NRCS Broadened Reach of Conservation in Past Two Years
The USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) continued its conservation work despite the pandemic and numerous natural disasters. During the past couple of years, they’ve helped agricultural producers and forest landowners implement conservation practices on their working lands. These efforts by NRCS helped conserve natural resources such as soil, water and wildlife while delivering climate solutions and boosting producers’ bottom lines. Through …
EPA Proposes Changes to Agricultural Worker Protection Standard
There could soon be changes to certain agricultural pesticide use rules, as the Biden administration seeks to change some adjustments made in 2020. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a proposed rule that would change the pesticide Application Exclusion Zone (AEZ) requirements under the 2015 Agricultural Worker Protection Standard (WPS). In 2015, EPA made significant changes to the …
IRA Funding for Climate-Smart Agriculture
Investing in climate-smart agriculture. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced funding for agricultural producers and forest landowners to participate in voluntary conservation programs and adopt climate-smart practices. The Inflation Reduction Act provided an additional $19.5 billion over five years for climate-smart agriculture through several USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) programs. NRCS is …
Around the State with Commissioner Pate
In our weekly “Around the State with Alabama Agriculture Commissioner Rick Pate”, during the recent Cattle Industry Convention in New Orleans, an Alabama farm received a stewardship award. Can you tell us about it Commissioner? Learn more about it on the Environmental Stewardship Award Program website. And that’s our weekly Around the State with Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI) Commissioner, Rick Pate. …
NRCS Advanced Climate-Smart Agriculture, Broadened Reach of Conservation in Past Two Years
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) wants landowners to know that the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) continued its conservation work across the country amid an ongoing pandemic and numerous natural disasters. During that time, they helped agricultural producers and forest landowners, including urban and underserved producers, implement conservation practices on their working lands. These efforts by NRCS helped conserve natural resources …
Simpson Continues Pushing Florida Lawmakers for Land Money
(NSF/TALLAHASSEE, FL/Feb. 7, 2023) — After Gov. Ron DeSantis left the money out of his proposed budget, Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson continues to push state lawmakers to replenish funding for a program aimed at keeping ranches and farms from future development. Simpson, speaking Monday to the Senate Agriculture Committee, stressed the need to push forward with the Rural and Family …
Conservation Easements Protect Your Ag Land
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is urging agricultural landowners across the Southeast to consider safeguarding your ag land with a conservation easement. The Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) protects the agricultural viability and related conservation values of eligible land by limiting nonagricultural uses which negatively affect agricultural uses and conservation values. The ACEP protects grazing uses and related conservation values by restoring …