The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is establishing a new office to expand engagement opportunities with agricultural and rural communities. EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan announced the first-ever EPA Office of Agriculture and Rural Affairs during his remarks at Commodity Classic in Houston, Texas, on Friday. Commodity Classic is the largest farmer-led annual convention in the country and Regan is …
Farm Conservation One Key to Fighting Climate Change
Last year was a record setting year for USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). When it comes to conservation work, some 2.8 billion dollars was spent on various projects across the country. That was NRCS Chief, Terry Cosby, who says these farm conservation projects can help fight climate change. For fiscal year 2024, NRCS has $3 billion in Inflation Reduction Act funds …
USDA-NRCS in Georgia Seeks Proposals from Conservation Minded Partners
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service in Georgia (NRCS-GA) is requesting proposals to assist with implementing some key priorities. The objective of this Notice of Funding is to obtain Technical Services and Projects to enhance conservation technical assistance and Farm Bill program delivery across Georgia. Conservation minded organizations, who wish to apply, should demonstrate how they can ensure equity in the delivery …
Fiscal Year 2024 Soil Survey Cooperative Research Priorities
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) plans to invest in partnerships to promote and fund research that informs and improves soil surveys at the national level. It is all part of an ongoing effort to continue to provide critical data to the country, and partners are encouraged to prepare proposals. Each of the 2024 Cooperative Soil Survey Research Proposals must include significant …
NRCS Seeking Public Comment on Conservation Practices
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is seeking public comment on proposed revisions to eight national conservation practice standards. Proposed revisions to the national conservation practice standards include: Comments should be submitted via regulations.gov or via mail by March 4, 2024. NRCS regularly reviews all national conservation practices to seek opportunities to increase flexibility and incorporate new technologies to help the nation’s farmers, ranchers, and private …
Ag Groups Respond to Dicamba Decision
Agriculture groups around the nation responded to the EPA’s decision to allow farmers to use existing stocks of dicamba for the upcoming planting season. The American Farm Bureau Federation sent a letter to EPA that read, “We are grateful to EPA for hearing farmers’ and ranchers’ concerns and addressing them quickly to ensure we have access to the critical tools …
USDA Helping Small Farms
How the USDA is helping small farms. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Testifying before the House Agriculture Committee Wednesday, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack listed several ways the USDA is helping small and mid-sized farms. “Climate Amart Agriculture Commodity initiative helping smaller-sized producers get a value-added proposition. Having farmers qualify for ecosystem service markets and when they do …
USDA to Train Future Conservation and Climate Leaders
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced a new effort to train the next generation of conservation and climate leaders. As part of the American Climate Corps (ACC) initiative, the Working Lands Climate Corps (WLCC) will provide technical training and career pathway opportunities for young people, helping them deliver economic benefits through climate-smart agriculture solutions for farmers and ranchers across the …
Record Investment in Private Lands Conservation
It was announced Tuesday that the Biden Administration made record investments in private lands conservation in fiscal year 2023. This was all through resources made available by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), with the largest investment in climate action. In fiscal year 2023, USDA supported more than 45,000 conservation contracts, more than any year in the 89-year history of USDA’s Natural Resources …
USDA’s Working Lands Climate Corps
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has launched the Working Lands Climate Corps (WLCC), an initiative designed to train the next generation of conservation and climate leaders. Xochitl Torres Small, Deputy Secretary of Agriculture, revealed the program at the National Association of Conservation Districts’ (NACD) yearly gathering in San Diego. According to Will McIntee, Senior Advisor for Public Engagement at …