The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced $31 million in funds has been earmarked for advance restoration work and to improve water quality in the Gulf Coast states impacted by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. To mitigate the impact of oil spills in environmentally sensitive areas, it’s essential to use oil skimming services that can efficiently remove and contain the spilled …
Financial Assistance Helps Ag Producers in Florida Improve Water Quality
Agricultural producers in select watersheds in Florida can apply for financial assistance from USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) until May 31 to improve water quality in coastal waters. The lower Suwannee watersheds are Long Pond and Long Pond Slough in Levy County and the North Old Town Hammock watershed in Gilchrist and Dixie counties. If landowners show interest, NRCS proposes funding …
USDA Awards New Partnership Project in Alabama
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded a new partnership project in Alabama designed to help mitigate climate change and protect natural resources while supporting America’s producers. Overall, USDA will be investing $330 million in 85 locally driven, public-private partnerships nationwide. This will include the “Regenerating Alabama’s Cropland” project. All projects are awarded through the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Regional Conservation …
Supporting Ag Carbon Markets
The Growing Climate Solutions Act of 2021, introduced in the U.S. Senate last week, basically creates a certification program and provides information and technical assistance to ag producers and forestry owners wanting to voluntarily participate in carbon markets. Tyron Spearman has the details.
NCC on Senate Reintroduction of Growing Climate Solutions Act
Last week, the U.S. Senate reintroduced the Growing Climate Solutions Act of 2021, legislation that would create a certification program at USDA to help solve technical entry barriers that prevent farmer and forest landowner participation in carbon credit markets. Vice President of Washington Operations for the National Cotton Council (NCC), Reece Langley, says this bipartisan legislation is expected to move its …
Biden Pledges 50 Percent Cut in U.S. Emissions By 2030
Last week, during a virtual Earth Day summit with other world leaders, President Joe Biden pledged to cut U.S. greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030. A DTN article says biofuel groups are relieved after the president’s plan talked about very low carbon, new generation renewable fuels to help achieve rapid emission reductions in both the auto fleet and aviation. …
Biden’s 30X30 Proposal Causing Concern Among U.S. Agriculture
The American Farm Bureau Federation is one of many agriculture groups calling on the Biden Administration to act responsibly when it comes to conservation. Biden’s goal to conserve at least 30 percent of U.S. land and water by 2030, commonly known as “30X30,” is raising many questions. A letter to the administration makes three key requests: that the administration provides …
Dr. Hugh Hammond Bennett: Sparked the Creation of a Conservation Agency
Today’s farmers, ranchers, and private forest landowners are better prepared to maintain healthy and resilient soil due to the tireless efforts of Dr. Hugh Hammond Bennett, the Soil Conservation Service’s (SCS) first Chief and the Father of Soil Conservation, born 140 years ago on April 15, 1881. A maverick and visionary, Bennett knew that productive soils would help farmers, ranchers …
U.S. Drought Monitor: Tale of Two Regions
The Western U.S., in the latest Drought Monitor released Thursday, shows much of the region in drought categories, with several areas classified in extreme or exceptional drought, the two most severe categories. Comparatively, the Eastern U.S. is mostly drought-free from the Eastern seaboard to the Central Plains. Drawing a line from the eastern border of Texas to the North is …
USDA Extends Deadline for Comments on Proposed Revisions
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announced it is extending the deadline for public comments on proposed revisions to 23 national conservation practice standards. Comments on the proposed revisions, which were published March 9, are now due April 22. NRCS is encouraging agricultural producers, landowners, organizations, Tribes, and others that use its conservation practices to comment on these revisions. They …