(WASHINGTON, May 3, 2022) — Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is accepting more than 2 million acres in offers from agricultural producers and landowners through the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) General signup, the first of the program’s multiple signups occurring in 2022. With about 3.4 million acres expiring this year, Vilsack encourages producers and landowners …
Agriculture Greenhouse Gas Emissions Falling
Agriculture gets good marks when it comes to lowering greenhouse gasses. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. The nation’s greenhouse gas emissions are declining and fell more than four percent from 2019 to 2020. That’s according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The most recent Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks shows agriculture continues to represent …
American Farmers are Dropping Greenhouse Gas Emissions
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), American agriculture’s greenhouse gas emissions fell over four percent from 2019 to 2020. The recent Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks shows ag represents only 10 percent of total U.S. emissions, much lower than other economic sectors. Farm Bureau economists analyzed the EPA data and found that total agricultural emissions in …
It’s Earth Day: Anniversary of the Birth of the Modern Environmental Movement
Today, April 22nd is Earth Day. More about that coming up on This Land of Ours. Every year on April 22, Earth Day marks the anniversary of the birth of the modern environmental movement. Earth Day was first observed on April 22, 1970. Earlier this month Pique Action and earthday.org announced a strategic partnership as part of the ‘Invest In …
Farm Groups Oppose Final NEPA Changes
Key farm groups are opposing the Biden Administration’s final phase 1 revisions to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) affecting major infrastructure projects. The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) say the revised NEPA rules are a step backwards and jeopardize the very projects the Biden Administration is promoting. Here is AFBF’s Shelby Hagenauer. …
Important Facts about Dairy for Earth Day
Earth Day is Friday, April 22nd. And the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) notes the dairy industry has reasons to celebrate this special day, as it’s an opportunity to refocus on the environmental and climate leadership within U.S. agriculture and around the world. So, courtesy of NMPF’s colleagues at Undeniably Dairy, here are some of those reasons: Due to innovative farming and …
AFBF: NEPA Changes Signal Return to Outdated, Cumbersome Regulations
American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) President Zippy Duvall commented Wednesday on the final phase 1 revisions to the National Environmental Policy Act, known as NEPA. Duvall says, “AFBF is disappointed that the Biden administration has decided to reverse commonsense reforms to the National Environmental Policy Act.” AFBF says farmers and ranchers share the goal of caring for the natural resources …
USDA-NRCS Program Working with Urban Agricultural Producers
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is working to assist urban agricultural producers through their Urban Agriculture and Innovation Production (UAIP) projects under the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). It offers producers technical and financial assistance to address resource concerns on their land. NRCS serves all agriculture, large to small, conventional to organic, rural to urban. As American agriculture continues to grow in …
CSP Signup Deadline in Georgia is Friday
Agricultural producers and forest landowners looking to build on conservation efforts in Georgia are being reminded of a nearing deadline. The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is accepting applications for the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP). And while they accept CSP applications year-round, Georgia producers and landowners need to apply by Friday, April 1 to be considered for funding in the current cycle.? Agricultural …
Producers Encouraged to Learn More about EQIP
Each year, farmers face a unique set of challenges, but the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has programs to help in many cases. An example of that is the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). It provides financial and technical assistance to agricultural and forestry producers to address natural resource concerns and deliver environmental benefits. This includes improved water and air quality, conserved …