State Technical Committee

USDA NRCS in Florida to Host State Technical Committee Meeting June 12

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service in Florida (NRCS-FL) will host a State Technical Committee meeting on June 12, 2024, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time) to provide a report for Florida natural resource and program priorities and USDA decisions and to seek recommendations from Florida agricultural leaders. Participation in the meeting is open to the public and will be available through …

EQIP

Producers Reminded about USDA Conservation Programs

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) encourages agricultural producers and forest landowners across the Southeast to participate in voluntary conservation programs and adopt climate-smart practices in fiscal year 2024.  NRCS is accepting applications for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) and Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP), which help a wide variety of producers, including urban and organic producers.  For fiscal year 2024, NRCS …

nrs

Funding Available for Conservation and Climate-Smart Agriculture

Last month, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that $1.5 billion was being made available in fiscal year 2024 to invest in partner-driven conservation and climate solutions. Through the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), project proposals will be accepted until July 2, 2024.  Projects funded through the RCPP will help farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners adopt and …

Grazing Lands

USDA-NRCS Working to Expand Conservation on Grazing Lands

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) reminds livestock producers that May 26 is the application deadline in their efforts to expand conservation on grazing lands. Investments of up to $22 million in partnerships through the Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative (GLCI) are designed to expand access to conservation technical assistance for livestock producers. NRCS Chief Terry Cosby said, “NRCS enlists a wide variety of …

EQIP

Senators Want $1.2 Billion for Conservation Funding

A group of U.S. Senators are calling on the Senate Appropriations Committee to fully fund agricultural conservation programs in the FY 2025 funding bill.  “Land-based mitigation measures in agriculture, forestry, and other land use sectors represent some of the most important options currently available for large-scale emissions reductions and the removal and storage of carbon dioxide at scale,” Senators Michael …

USDA-NRCS Provides Conservation Programs for Organic Producers

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has a variety of programs that benefit producers across the Southeast in many ways and on many operations. This includes through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, Conservation Stewardship Program and Agricultural Conservation Easement Program. And if you are an organic producer, yes this includes you. Last year, NRCS started providing assistance for a …

Producers Can Use Farm Loan Programs for Climate-Smart Opportunities

The USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) and Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) reminds agricultural producers that farm loan programs can be used to support a variety of climate-smart agriculture practices. Many that can build on practices that farmers and ranchers already use, like cover cropping, nutrient management and conservation tillage.  Climate-smart agricultural practices generate significant environmental benefits by capturing and sequestering carbon, improving water …

Grazing Lands

USDA-NRCS Expanding Grazing Lands Conservation

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is accepting proposals through its Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative (GLCI) until May 26, 2024. An investment up to $22 million is being made in partnerships that expand access to conservation technical assistance for livestock producers and increase the use of conservation practices on grazing lands. Project proposals for GLCI Cooperative Agreements will identify and address barriers to …

USDA-NRCS Accepting RCPP Project Proposals

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) wants to remind landowners it is now accepting project proposals through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). This will help farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners adopt and expand conservation strategies to enhance natural resources while tackling the climate crisis.  This $1.5 billion investment, being made available through the Farm Bill and the Inflation Reduction Act, is enabling …

America’s Producers Leading the Way with Climate Change Solutions

Earth Day took place this past Monday, an event that was first celebrated some 54 years ago. And over those years, farmers, ranchers and forest landowners have seen the effects of climate change. Producers are uniquely positioned to deliver climate change solutions through programs being offered by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). These are supported by Farm Bill funding and …