Determining How Effective NRCS Conservation Practices are at Protecting Wetlands

Dan Environment, Industry News Release, USDA-NRCS

(NRCS) — If you were to travel back in time to colonial America, you would see a much different landscape. Wetlands, those areas where water covers or is close to the soil surface all or most of the year, were much more prevalent on the landscape than they are today. Back then, wetlands were viewed as a barrier to agriculture …

landowners

Open Signup for the Conservation Reserve Program and CRP Grasslands in Early 2021

Dan Environment, Industry News Release, USDA

(USDA/FSA) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the signup periods for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and the CRP Grasslands in 2021. Signup for general CRP will be open from Jan. 4, 2021, to Feb. 12, 2021, and signup for CRP Grasslands runs from March 15, 2021 to April 23, 2021. Both programs are competitive and provide annual …

florida

Florida NRCS Offers Help for Severe Erosion

Dan Environment, Florida, USDA-NRCS

USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Florida is providing Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) funds to help agricultural producers address severe erosion and irrigation retrofit. Applications for financial assistance are being accepted through Dec. 4. Florida State Conservationist Juan Hernandez told Southeast AgNet’s Randall Weiseman, that this is a two-state effort. Agricultural producers are eligible to apply in Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, …

conservation

USDA Announces Updated Conservation Practice Standards

Dan Environment, Industry News Release, USDA-NRCS

(USDA/NRCS) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has completed and published updates to its set of National Conservation Practice Standards, which include 58 standards that have been updated or revised since August. The 2018 Farm Bill required USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to review all 169 of its national conservation practices to seek opportunities …

agricultural

USDA Releases 2019 Pesticide Data Report

Dan Environment, Field Crops, Industry News Release, Nursery Crops, Pest/Pest Control, Specialty Crops, USDA

The USDA published its 2019 Pesticide Data Program’s Annual Summary. The report shows that nearly 99 percent of the tested samples had pesticide residues below benchmark levels established by the Environmental Protection Agency. The two agencies work together every year to identify which foods get tested on a rotating basis. The Agricultural Marketing Service works with state agencies to collect …

bayer feed bee program

Bayer Pleased with New Registration for XtendiMax Herbicide

Clint Thompson Environment

This week, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provided clarity on three Dicamba products. That includes a new 5-year registration for XtendiMax® herbicide, with VaporGrip® Technology. Bayer’s low-volatility dicamba product has been an important weed-control tool for many U.S. growers. Alex Zenteno, Bayer dicamba product manager, told Southeast AgNet’s Randall Weiseman they look forward to working with growers to ensure they …

georgia cotton commission

Georgia Cotton Commission Welcomes Dicamba Announcement

Dan Cotton, Environment, Field Crops, Georgia, Georgia Cotton Commission (GCC), Industry News Release, Soybeans

(GCC) — On October 27th, United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew R. Wheeler met with farmers and industry stakeholders at Cromley Farms, a sixth-generation family farm in Brooklet, to announce new five-year registrations for two dicamba products and an extended registration for an additional dicamba product.  The Georgia Cotton Commission (GCC) is pleased with this announcement.  The GCC …

dicamba

Dicamba Approved for Over-the-Top Use

Dan Cotton, Environment, Industry News Release, Soybeans

(GAC) — On Tuesday, October 27, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Andrew Wheeler joined members of Georgia’s Congressional Delegation, Ag Commissioner Gary Black, and dozens of farmers and agriculture organizations on the farm of Lee Cromley in Bulloch County to announce the agency will approve three dicamba formulations for over-the-top use for cotton and soybeans. Members of the Georgia Agribusiness Council …

Wheeler Calls on DOJ to Investigate Environmental Organizations Funding

Clint Thompson Environment

Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Andrew Wheeler wants the Department of Justice to investigate funding for environmental groups. In a letter to the Justice Department, Wheeler cited concerns the groups were receiving secret funding from foreign countries, specifically China and Russia. The action follows a previous letter by Representative Lance Gooden, a Texas Republican. Gooden requested the investigation earlier this month. …

florida

New Rule Makes Enhancements to Environmental Quality Incentives Program

Dan Environment, Industry News Release, USDA-NRCS

(USDA/NRCS) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released the final rule for its Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). The rule updates USDA’s flagship program as directed by the 2018 Farm Bill and integrates feedback from agricultural producers and others.  “This final rule enables us to continue helping producers manage their land in the most beneficial ways possible,” said Kevin Norton, acting Chief of USDA’s …