A new survey by Axiom Marketing shows the participation levels and interest in Carbon Markets from ag retailers, a top source of information for farmers. The research from the Minneapolis-based firm found that 70 percent of retailers do not understand how to verify carbon to participate in the carbon markets. Of the retailers surveyed, 50 percent say they are unsure …
DeSantis, Florida Cabinet Approve Florida Forever Land Acquisitions, Conservation Easements
Six of the seven projects are within the newly designated Florida Wildlife Corridor (Tallahassee/Sept. 21, 2021-NSF) — Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet approved seven Florida Forever land acquisitions and conservation easements that will protect Florida’s fragile natural environments in Hardee, Hendry, Indian River, Leon, Okeechobee, and Santa Rosa counties. The properties approved today, totaling nearly 20,000 acres, will …
DeSantis, Cabinet Eye Conservation Deals
(TALLAHASSEE/September 15, 2021) — A series of land preservation deals, covering nearly 20,000 acres from the Devil’s Garden southwest of Lake Okeechobee to forest land in the Panhandle, will go before Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet next week with a combined price tag of $53.1 million. The proposals, which would mostly be funded through the Florida Forever program, …
NRCS Offers Conservation Programs for Ag Producers
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) wants to remind eligible landowners and agricultural producers about the various voluntary programs they offer that provide financial and technical assistance to help manage natural resources in a sustainable manner. Through these programs, NRCS approves contracts to provide financial assistance to help plan and implement conservation practices that address natural resource concerns or opportunities to help …
USDA Accepts More than 2.5 Million Acres in Grassland CRP
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced they have accepted offers for more than 2.5 million acres from agricultural producers and private landowners for enrollment through this year’s Grassland Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Signup. This is double last year’s enrollment and brings the total acres enrolled across all CRP signups in 2021 to more than 5.3 million acres, surpassing USDA’s …
Local Working Groups Set Conservation Priorities in Florida
When it comes to solving natural resource problems, local landowners and managers know best. That’s why the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Florida gives them a seat at the table at local working group meetings. At these meetings, farmers, ranchers, forest landowners, conservation partners and the public discuss natural resource needs and priorities for their county. NRCS and soil and water …
Climate-Smart Agriculture through CRP
Back in May, the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) announced an initiative to quantify the climate benefits of Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) contracts. The multi-year effort will enable USDA to better target CRP toward climate outcomes and improve existing models and conservation planning tools while supporting USDA’s goal of putting American agriculture and forestry at the center of climate-smart solutions to …
NCGA to EPA: Don’t Saddle Farmers with Unnecessary Water Regulations
A National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) leader says federal regulations on remote bodies of water will hurt farmers without providing any significant improvement to water quality. This is what Andy Jobman, chair of NCGA’s Stewardship Action Team, told the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Tuesday. Jobman said, “The EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers must not assume that achieving desired water …
EPA Bans Chlorpyrifos on Food
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it will stop the use of the pesticide chlorpyrifos on all food. It said it is taking the action to better protect human health, particularly that of children and farmworkers. In a final rule released in August, EPA is revoking all “tolerances” for chlorpyrifos. The tolerances establish an amount of a pesticide that …
Data Dashboards Bringing Together Pollinator Data
Efforts are ongoing at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to build a data dashboard for those involved in pollinator health improvement efforts. USDA Honey Bee and Pollinator Research Coordinator, Elizabeth Hill, explains the concept of data dashboards and how one developed specifically for pollinators can aid researchers and stakeholders in pollinator health efforts. Hill discusses how a developing data …