USDA Offers Expanded Conservation Program Opportunities in Florida

Dan Conservation, Environment, Florida, USDA-NRCS

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Florida has announced several new and expanded opportunities for climate-smart agriculture in 2022. Updates include nationwide availability of the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) Conservation Incentive Contracts option. “Climate change is happening, and America’s agricultural communities are on the frontlines,” NRCS State Conservationist Juan Hernandez said. “We have to continue to support and expand the adoption …

Conservation Program Opportunities Support Climate Smart Agriculture in Alabama

Dan Alabama, Climate Change, Conservation, Environment, USDA-NRCS

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Alabama wants to remind producers and landowners across the state about several new and expanded opportunities for climate smart agriculture in 2022. These updates include availability of the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) Conservation Incentive Contracts option. It is a new and streamlined EQIP Cover Crop Initiative which includes added flexibilities for producers to easily re-enroll …

Georgia Peanut Farm Show Next Week

Clint Thompson Georgia, Georgia Peanut Commission (GPC), Peanuts

By Clint Thompson The Georgia Peanut Commission reminds growers and industry leaders that the 45th annual Georgia Peanut Farm Show and Conference is less than a week away at the University of Georgia Tifton Campus Conference Center in Tifton, Georgia. It also reminds interested attendees that this year’s event will be held over two days, Jan. 19-20. Rodney Dawson, chairman …

Alabama SWCC on Installation of Irrigation Pivots

Dan Alabama, Irrigation, USDA-NRCS, Water

Back in 2019, the Alabama Soil and Water Conservation Committee (SWCC) worked with the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Alabama Cooperative Extension System (ACES) to identify watersheds that would have funding priority for new irrigation systems. To update that progress, Alabama SWCC Executive Director Dr. William Puckett, told Southeast AgNet this week about the four areas of the state they are working with. Learn more …

USDA Renews Partnership with Federation of Southern Cooperatives

Dan Conservation, Environment, Forestry, USDA-NRCS

During an event held Monday in East Point, Ga., Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack joined the Executive Director of the Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund, Cornelius Blanding, to sign an agreement signifying a continued partnership between USDA and the nonprofit organization. The partnership aims to increase the number of minority landowners in the South and support them in sustainable forestry and …

Florida Natural Resource Meeting Web Conference is January 26

Dan Florida, USDA-NRCS

USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Florida will conduct a State Technical Committee meeting January 26, from 10:00 am-12:00 pm Eastern time. The meeting is available to the public and NRCS will provide a report for natural resource and program priority decisions and seek recommendations. Materials for the meeting can be found on the NRCS State Technical Committee website. Here are the …

Restoring Longleaf Pine Forests through USDA-NRCS Program

Dan Alabama, Florida, Forestry, Georgia, USDA-NRCS

While longleaf pine forests once encompassed more than 90 million acres across the Southeast, the past couple of centuries has seen development, timbering and fire suppression reduce the ecosystem’s range. These forests represent some of the world’s most biologically diverse ecosystems and are home to nearly 600 plant and animal species. That is why USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) …

GCC Annual Meeting Returning to In-Person Format on Jan. 26

Clint Thompson Georgia Cotton Commission (GCC)

By Clint Thompson The Georgia Cotton Commission (GCC) reminds producers and industry leaders that its annual meeting will return to an in-person format on Wednesday, Jan. 26. Taylor Sills, executive director of the GCC, discusses the importance of this year’s event. “A lot of growers have questions and sometimes they don’t want to ask them on the virtual format. They …

Signup Continues for 2022 Dairy Margin Coverage Program

Dan Dairy, USDA-FSA

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) wants to remind producers that signup for the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program continues until Feb. 18, 2022. DMC enables producers to get coverage through this important safety-net program for another year as well as get additional assistance through the new Supplemental DMC. Supplemental DMC will provide $580 million to better help small- and …

2022 Soils Planner is Now Available

Dan Soil, USDA-NRCS

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) wants landowners to know the 2022 Soils Planner is now available. USDA’s Soil and Plant Science Division notes it is a highly educational, calendar-style planner and is provided free to the public while supplies last. Individual copies can be ordered from the NRCS Distribution Center website at nrcspad.sc.egov.usda.gov. Enter the keyword “planner” …