A federal court on Tuesday invalidated the Environmental Protection Agency and Army Corps of Engineers’ 2015 expansion of federal jurisdiction over small and isolated waters. After years of litigation in suits filed by dozens of state governments and trade groups, this is the first court to reach a final decision on the lawfulness of the 2015 Waters of the United …
USDA Seeks Project Proposals to Protect and Restore Critical Wetlands
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) wants landowners to know they are making available up to $40 million in technical and financial assistance to help eligible conservation partners voluntarily protect, restore and enhance critical wetlands on agricultural lands. Funding will be provided through the Wetland Reserve Enhancement Partnership (WREP), part of the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP). Through WREP, states, local units …
Continuous Signup Period Coming for Conservation Resource Program
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced it will soon begin signup of eligible lands under its continuous Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). Rod Bain has more details. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) will accept applications beginning June 3 for certain practices under the continuous Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) signup and will offer extensions for expiring CRP contracts. The 2018 …
“Beef Cattle Industry Has Great Story to Tell” On Climate
Direct Emissions From Beef Cattle Only 2% of Total U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Lyons-Blythe Testifies Testifying on behalf of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), Kansas cattle producer Debbie Lyons-Blythe delivered a clear message about eCommerce carbon offsets at a U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee hearing on climate change. “The U.S. cattle industry is proud of its history as stewards of …
Florida NRCS Holding State Technical Committee Meeting
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Florida will conduct a State Technical Committee Meeting this Tuesday, May 21 from 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Doyle Conner Agriculture Building Auditorium in Gainesville. The meeting is open to the public and will give an overview of the 2018 Farm Bill programs and conservation easements. NRCS will solicit recommendations …
Conservation Client Gateway Helping Alabama Farmers
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Alabama wants to remind farmers about their secure online portal, Conservation Client Gateway. Alabama State Conservationist, Ben Malone, says this is a great way to take care of business without having to visit your local NRCS office. Malone notes your local NRCS office can help get you started, or learn more on their website, al.nrcs.usda.gov. …
White House Requests More Everglades Money
Additional federal funding could be coming for Everglades restoration. The White House has revised a budget request to Congress and is seeking to provide $200 million to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for Everglades work, a boost of $137 million from an earlier proposal. Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has been touting the proposed 2019-2020 state budget for including $680 …
Commissioner Nikki Fried Announces New Water Policy Director
Commissioner Nicole “Nikki” Fried announced her appointment of Christopher Pettit as Director of Agricultural Water Policy for the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Speaking outside the South Florida Water Management District, Fried highlighted Pettit’s background in water resources management in Florida and beyond. A livestream of the press conference may be viewed here. “Addressing our state’s water issues was one of my …
Signup by Friday for CSP
The signup deadline for Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) applications to be considered for 2019 funding is Friday, May 10. USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is planning to invest up to $700 million for both new enrollments and contract extensions in fiscal year 2019. The 2018 Farm Bill did make several changes to CSP including high ranking applications are now based on …
Plants that Attract Bees and Other Pollinators
Cathy Isom has information for you about the plants that will attract bees and other pollinating friends to your garden. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. As much as we like our fruits and vegetables and other wild plants – we also need bees and other pollinating friends to keep them around! According to the Natural Resources Defense …