The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced the availability of up to $2 million for local governments to host Community Compost and Food Waste Reduction (CCFWR) pilot projects for fiscal year 2021. The cooperative agreements support projects that develop and test strategies for planning and implementing municipal compost plans and food waste reduction plans and they are part of …
USDA Investing in the Nation’s Emergency Food System
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced late last week an investment of up to $1 billion, including $500 million in American Rescue Plan funding, in The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP). The new program will support and expand the emergency food network so states, food banks and local organizations can reliably serve their communities. That’s USDA Deputy Under Secretary …
Grants for Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production Announced
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced the availability of up to $4 million for grants to support the development of urban agriculture and innovative production projects. USDA’s Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovation Production is accepting proposals for planning and innovation projects, and these grants are part of USDA’s broader efforts to support urban agriculture. USDA will accept …
Hurricane Season Begins
Federal Program Protects Public Safety Hurricane season officially begins today and the Emergency Watershed Protection Program (EWP) may be able to help if your area suffers damage from a natural disaster. The program can relieve imminent hazards to life and property caused by floods, fires, windÂstorms and hurricanes. Aid may include financial and technical assistance to remove debris from streams, …
Conservation Finance Can Mean Cleaner Air and Water and Healthier Soil
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), the largest funder of conservation on private land in the U.S., supports producers’ transitions to beneficial farming and ranching practices. While these transitions can require an upfront cost, they also often lead to financial rewards. Healthy and resilient soils may lead to more productive crops requiring less fertilizer. And watersheds protected by forests and riverbanks with …
Florida Natural Resource Meeting Web Conference is June 23
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Florida will conduct a State Technical Committee meeting June 23 from 10 a.m.- 12 noon by web conference. NRCS will seek recommendations and provide a report for fiscal year 2022 natural resource and program priority decisions. Florida State Conservationist Juan Hernandez, who will chair the meeting, says he seeks advice from the farmers, ranchers and …
USDA Announces New Initiative to Quantify Climate Benefits of CRP
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) announced this week an initiative to quantify the climate benefits of Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) contracts. The multi-year effort will enable USDA to better target CRP toward climate outcomes and improve existing models and conservation planning tools while supporting USDA’s goal of putting American agriculture and forestry at the center of climate-smart …
Commissioner Nikki Fried Joins USDA Event on American Rescue Plan Debt Relief for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers
Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried joined U.S. Department of Agriculture Deputy Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Monica Rainge, U.S. Representative Al Lawson, Jr. (FL-5), and others to highlight historic American Rescue Plan provisions that provide $4 billion in debt relief to socially disadvantaged farmers, ranchers, and growers. They were joined at the Florida A&M University (FAMU) Research and Extension Center in Quincy, Florida by FAMU President Larry Robinson, Ph.D., …
Florida Webinar to Explain How to Apply for CIG
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service in Florida recently announced they will be investing $300,000 for Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) for high tunnel systems that improve weather resiliency and improve degraded plant conditions. The deadline to submit a proposal is July 12. And for those who would like more information on how to apply for a Florida state grant, a webinar will be held Thursday, May …
USDA to Invest $15 Million through CIG Program
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is investing up to $15 million to support the development of new tools, approaches, practices and technologies to further natural resource conservation on private lands through the Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) program. CIG partners use creative problem solving and innovation to address our nation’s water quality, air quality, soil health and …