Christmas tree

Christmas Tree Industry Faces Climate and Economic Challenges

Dan Economy, Forestry, Weather

The U.S. Christmas tree industry is a vital and resilient sector, providing about $2.5 billion in annual revenue, according to Justin Whitehill, assistant professor at North Carolina State University and director of its Christmas Tree Genetics Program. With approximately 15,000 growers across the nation, Christmas trees are cultivated in every state, with key production areas in Michigan, Oregon, and North …

private

USDA Awards Grants to Support Private Forestland Management

Dan Agri-Business, Forestry, Funding, USDA

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced awards of nearly $335 million to help strengthen financial incentives for private forest landowners to manage their forests sustainably and to permanently conserve private forests in partnership with states. Of the total funding, nearly $210 million was awarded as competitive grants to state agencies, for-profit entities and a broad array of non-profit organizations. These …

USDA Provides Additional Flexibilities to Respond to 2024 Hurricanes

Dan Agri-Business, Economy, Emergency Conservation Program (ECP), Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP), Forestry, Funding, Hurricane, USDA-FSA, USDA-NRCS

Expedites Emergency Conservation and Disaster Recovery Payments for Producers in Nine States Impacted by Hurricanes in 2016 to 2023 (USDA-FSA/WASHINGTON/Dec. 5, 2024) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced it is taking steps to streamline and provide flexibilities for environmental compliance requirements for 2024 hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton allowing the Farm Service Agency (FSA) to expedite approval of payments …

public

Public Input Wanted on Conservation Practice Standards

Dan Climate Change, Forestry, USDA-NRCS

Efforts continue to collect public input on how to improve conservation practice standards to maximize climate change mitigation and adaptation benefits.  More specifically, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is asking for public input on improvements that can be made to conservation practice standards for?mitigation and adaption.  This input is needed to help to maximize climate benefits for practice standards currently considered Climate-Smart …

forestlands

USDA Announces Investment to Conserve Forestlands Nationwide

Dan Agri-Business, Forestry, Funding

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Forest Service has committed over $265 million to conserve nearly 335,000 acres of important forestlands across 17 states. This investment, supported by President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, is part of the Forest Legacy Program and aims to protect working forests that contribute to rural economies. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack emphasized that these forests provide …

projects

USDA Seeks Public Input on Climate Benefits of Conservation Practice Standards

Dan Agricultural Conservation Easement Program – Wetland Reserve Easements (ACEP-WRE), Climate Change, Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Forestry, Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), USDA-NRCS

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is seeking public input on how to improve conservation practice standards to maximize climate change mitigation and adaptation benefits, as supported by peer-reviewed scientific literature. Conservation practices providing climate benefits are delivered through existing USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) conservation programs popular with producers, like the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP), and Regional …

eqip

EQIP Sign-Up Continues in Georgia

Dan Agri-Business, Conservation, Environment, Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Forestry, Funding, Georgia, USDA-NRCS

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service in Georgia (NRCS-GA) reminds agricultural and forest producers that sign-up for a fiscal year 2025 statewide federal assistance opportunity continues. The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) sign-up runs through November 15, 2024.  While applications are accepted year-round, this ranking date announcement is for all general EQIP, special initiatives, as well as the IRA-funded Climate-Smart Agriculture and Forestry mitigation activities that address …

eqip

USDA-NRCS in Georgia Announces EQIP Sign-Up

Dan Climate Change, Conservation, Environment, Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Forestry, Georgia, USDA-NRCS

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service in Georgia (NRCS-GA) announces a fiscal year 2025 statewide federal assistance opportunity for agricultural and forest producers, through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). This sign-up that concludes on November 15, 2024, will utilize 2018 Farm Bill and Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) funding.  While applications are accepted year-round, this ranking date announcement is for all general EQIP, special initiatives, …

rcpp

Florida Agricultural Landowners Encouraged to Apply for RCPP 

Dan Florida, Forestry, North Florida Land Trust (NFLT), Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), USDA-NRCS

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service in Florida (NRCS-FL) is now accepting applications for the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). While NRCS accepts RCPP applications year-round, Florida producers and landowners should apply by November 1, 2024, to be considered for funding in the FY2025 current cycle. Through RCPP, NRCS co-invests with partners to implement projects that demonstrate innovative solutions to conservation challenges and …

Southeast Region

Southeast Region Landowners Invited to Thursday’s Conference

Dan Forestry, Georgia, USDA-NRCS

Landowners across the Southeast are invited to the Southeast Region Farmers and Landowners Conservation and Outreach Conference. The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Georgia, in collaboration with McIntosh S.E.E.D., are hosting this free indoor/outdoor event Thursday, September 19th in Brunswick, Georgia.  Discussions about renewing forestry and agriculture with climate smart and sustainable conservation will take place. Some of the topics and presentations include:  …