A new U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) report shows use of no-till, crop rotations, more efficient irrigation methods and advanced technologies have climbed in recent years. The report, “Conservation Practices on Cultivated Cropland: A Comparison of CEAP I and CEAP II Survey Data and Modeling”, is from USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). It demonstrates progress made through voluntary conservation over a …
DeSantis, Cabinet Eye Conservation Deals?
(NSF/TALLAHASSEE/March 23, 2022) — Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet next week are expected to consider nearly $40 million in land deals that would help keep more than 17,000 acres from future development. Targeted sites range from 2.85 acres of hardwood hammocks in the Florida Keys to 932 acres of ranchland in Hardee County to a 3,610-acre parcel in …
USDA in Georgia Seeks Proposals from Conservation Minded Partners
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Georgia is requesting proposals to assist with implementing key priorities in the state. Conservation minded organizations, who wish to apply, should demonstrate how they can ensure equity in the delivery and implementation of all NRCS programs and Services. This includes increasing assistance for climate-smart agriculture and forestry to support producers in building resiliency across …
Alabama Signup for EQIP WLFW Eastern Hellbender Initiative Ending
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Alabama wants to remind landowners in certain parts of the state the deadline to submit applications for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) Working Lands for Wildlife (WLFW) Eastern Hellbender Initiative is this Friday, March 25th. Alabama is joining the WLFW Eastern Hellbender state level partnership along with Tennessee, Virginia, and North Carolina. The Alabama initiative will include practices to …
Chlorpyrifos Ban Will Stand
Agriculture groups had two requests for a stay of the Environmental Protection Agency’s ban on chlorpyrifos turned down by a federal court. DTN says the court will allow the groups’ latest suit against the agency to go forward. Farmers still can’t use the insecticide on food or feed crops because its food residue tolerances got revoked. The leading groups of …
USDA Report Shows a Decade of Conservation Trends
According to a new U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) report, the use of no-till, crop rotations, more efficient irrigation methods and advanced technologies have climbed in recent years. The report, from USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), demonstrates progress made through voluntary conservation over a 10-year period. The report titled, “Conservation Practices on Cultivated Cropland: A Comparison of CEAP I and CEAP …
Program Helping Protect Pollinators from Invasive Pests
The USDA program helping protect pollinators from invasive pests. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Bee pollination alone is responsible for more than 15-billion in added crop value, particularly for specialty crops such as almonds and other nuts, berries, fruits, and vegetables. Unfortunately, the honey bees are also vulnerable to invasive pests like parasitic mites, viruses, and predatory …
Florida Senate Confirms DEP Secretary
Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Secretary Shawn Hamilton was unanimously confirmed today by the Senate, less than a day after a law was enacted that gave Gov. Ron DeSantis more say in the appointment process. According to the News Service of Florida, Hamilton’s confirmation was held up for two days as the Senate waited for the House to approve the …
Senator Asks for Delay in CRP Sign-Up Deadline
The Senate Agriculture Committee’s Ranking Member, John Boozman of Arkansas, wrote a letter to Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack asking for a delay in the deadline for farmers to sign up for CRP. With inflation at a 40-year high and global food prices reaching a new record last month, Boozman wants the administration and USDA to look at ways of increasing …
USDA NRCS in Florida Accepting Applications for EQIP Urban Agricultural Initiative
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced applications are now being accepted from Florida urban agricultural producers for Urban Agriculture and Innovation Production (UAIP) projects. These projects are under the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), which offers producers technical and financial assistance to address resource concerns on their land. “Urban agriculture projects can help improve nutrition and food access and increase …