New Florida Farmer Pleased with NRCS Program

USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Florida wants to remind landowners applications for the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) for the fiscal year 2021 will be accepted through March 26. Samantha Longster with S&S Micro Farm LLC located in Bartow, Florida is a new and beginning farmer who with her husband, started farming blueberries last year. They just entered into CSP to plant cover crops …

New EPA Administrator Michael Regan Confirmed by Senate

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is officially under new leadership. Michael Regan has been confirmed by the Senate as the 15th EPA Administrator through a vote of 66-34. Regan received significant support from the agricultural industry throughout the confirmation process. Ag groups had expressed enthusiasm for working with Regan in finding practical solutions to environmental issues. “Regan’s experience and informed …

Conservation Program Improvements

The application deadline for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) is March 26 for the fiscal year 2021.   Through CSP, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) helps agricultural producers and forest landowners earn payments for expanding conservation activities while maintaining agricultural production on their land. CSP also encourages the adoption of new technologies and management …

USDA Seeks Public Comment on Revised Conservation Practice Standards

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is seeking public comment on proposed revisions to 23 national conservation practice standards through a posting in the Federal Register. The proposed revisions were published March 9 and comments are due April 8. Proposed revisions to the national conservation practice standards include: Stream Crossing– modification to allow vented fords as an …

USDA Delays Signup for CRP Grasslands

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced they are postponing the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Grasslands signup. While the original date to start this signup was mid-March, USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) will announce new signup dates in the coming weeks. The Biden Administration is currently evaluating the program and looking at ways to increase enrollment. CRP Grasslands was …

Signup for Funding to Remove Cogongrass Infestations in Florida Announced

(NRCS/FL) — Florida forest landowners in parts of Okaloosa and Santa Rosa counties can apply for financial assistance to manage invasive Cogongrass until March 26 from USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). The U.S. Department of Agriculture is investing $60,000 this fiscal year to remove the highly invasive Cogongrass in Florida. One of the world’s top-ten worst weeds, Cogongrass is threatening longleaf …

Florida Couple Pleased with NRCS CSP Contract

USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Florida wants to remind landowners they are accepting Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) applications for the fiscal year 2021 through March 26. A couple with a livestock operation in Frostproof, Florida has been pleased with their CSP contract. Arshad and Uma Malik raise sheep and goats on their Polk County farm, and have a CSP contract with prescribed grazing …

USDA in Georgia Announces April 2 Application Cutoff for CSP

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Georgia has announced the statewide cutoff for the fiscal year 2021 Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) funding is April 2, 2021.  Georgia State Conservationist, Terrance O. Rudolph, urges all Georgia agricultural producers and landowners who wish to be considered for this year’s funding to apply. “CSP is the nation’s largest conservation …

Florida NRCS Announces CRP Signup

USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Florida has announced they are now accepting Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) applications for the fiscal year 2021. Through CSP, NRCS helps agricultural producers and forest landowners earn payments for expanding conservation activities while maintaining agricultural production on their land. CSP also encourages the adoption of new technologies and management techniques. Changes in the 2018 Farm Bill authorized NRCS to …