climate-smart

Agricultural Producers to Conserve Land through Climate-Smart Easements

Dan Ag "Outdoors", Agricultural Conservation Easement Program – Wetland Reserve Easements (ACEP-WRE), Climate Change, Environment, USDA-NRCS

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will invest about $138 million of financial assistance from President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, the largest climate investment in history. This will be through 138 new climate-smart conservation easements, where farmers and ranchers are conserving wetlands, grasslands and prime farmlands. These selected Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) projects are part of a broad investment in climate-smart agriculture …

nacd

NACD Calls to Increase Funding for Conservation Priorities

Dan Conservation, Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), Environment, Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Forestry, National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD), Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), USDA-NRCS

This past Saturday, President Biden signed Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 appropriations legislation into law that provides funding for several federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the U.S. Department of the Interior. And while the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) appreciates that the enactment of final federal spending legislation prevents a government shutdown and …

Bobwhite Pilot

USDA Announced Bobwhite Pilot Project, General CRP Signup

Dan Conservation, Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), Environment, This Land of Ours, USDA-NRCS

A new conservation initiative from NRCS. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. The Department of Agriculture (USDA) is launching a new conservation initiative, the Working Lands for Wildlife’s Northern Bobwhite Pilot Project. NRCS has also announced the signup dates for USDA’s General Enrollment signup in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), which opens March 4. Both conservation opportunities give …

conservation

Farm Conservation One Key to Fighting Climate Change

Dan Climate Change, Conservation, Environment, USDA-NRCS

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 …

conservation

USDA-NRCS in Georgia Seeks Proposals from Conservation Minded Partners

Dan Conservation, Environment, Georgia, USDA-NRCS

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 …

conservation

Fiscal Year 2024 Soil Survey Cooperative Research Priorities

Dan Environment, Soil, USDA-NRCS

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

NRCS Seeking Public Comment on Conservation Practices

Dan Cattle, Conservation, Environment, Livestock, Pasture, USDA-NRCS, Water, Wetland

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 …

conservation

USDA to Train Future Conservation and Climate Leaders

Dan Climate Change, Conservation, Environment, USDA-NRCS

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 …

Climate-Smart Easements

Record Investment in Private Lands Conservation

Dan Agricultural Conservation Easement Program – Wetland Reserve Easements (ACEP-WRE), Conservation, Environment, Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), USDA-NRCS

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 …