USDA Accepts Over One Million Acres in CRP General Signup

Dan Conservation, Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), Environment, USDA-FSA, USDA-NRCS

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced this week it is accepting more than 1 million acres in this year’s Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) General sign-up. This is one of several signups that USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is holding for the program. “This year’s General CRP signup demonstrates the value and continued strength of this voluntary conservation program, which plays an …

Florida NRCS Hosting State Technical Committee Meeting Wednesday

Dan Florida, USDA-NRCS

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Florida (NRCS-FL) will host an in-person and virtual State Technical Committee meeting on Wednesday, June 14, from 9:00am to 12:00pm Eastern. The meeting is designed to provide a report for natural resource and program priorities and USDA decisions and to seek recommendations from Florida agricultural leaders. The meeting is open to the public virtually …

Florida NRCS to Host State Technical Committee Meeting June 14

Dan Florida, USDA-NRCS

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Florida (NRCS-FL) will host an in-person and virtual State Technical Committee meeting on Wednesday, June 14, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Eastern to provide a report for natural resource and program priorities and USDA decisions and to seek recommendations from Florida agricultural leaders. The meeting is open to the public, but in-person attendance …

Georgia Sign-up Deadline Nearing for Organic Production

Dan Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Georgia, USDA-NRCS

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Georgia (NRCS-GA) reminds farmers looking to transition to organic, the sign-up deadline for the Organic Transition Initiative (OTI) through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) is June 15, 2023. This Georgia NRCS sign-up follows a national announcement detailing the USDA’s multi-agency approach to assist producers beginning or in the process of transitioning to achieve organic certification. Only those …

Alabama Joint Chiefs’ Partnership Project Final Sign-up Opportunity

Dan Alabama, USDA-NRCS

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service in Alabama (NRCS-AL) reminds landowners that a second fiscal year 2023 sign-up for the Joint Chiefs’ Landscape Restoration Partnership Project called The Sustaining Gains in Longleaf Pine Restoration through Coordinated Cogongrass Control project continues. But, because this is the final year of the project, this will be the final sign-up opportunity. The sign-up deadline is Friday, June 16, 2023. Eligible counties …

Deadline Nearing for Florida Conservation Easement Program Sign-up

Dan Florida, Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), USDA-NRCS

Florida landowners interested in aligning their land uses with conservation values have just a few days left to apply for a conservation easement program in partnership with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Florida (NRCS-FL) and the North Florida Land Trust (NFLT). Applications are being accepted for the fiscal year 2023 NRCS Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) through June 16, 2023. While these conservation easement …

Bill Would Make Feral Swine Eradication Program Permanent

Dan Legislative, National Pork Producers Council (NPPC), Pork, Regulation, USDA-APHIS, USDA-NRCS

A group of Senators recently introduced the “Feral Swine Eradication Act” to extend it for five years and make a pilot program permanent that would eliminate wild hogs to safeguard public health and protect agricultural crops and lands and wildlife habitat. Those Senators include Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) and Raphael Warnock (D-GA). Similar legislation was also introduced in the U.S. House. …

RCCP Improved through NRCS Allotment

Dan Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), USDA-NRCS

The Biden-Harris Administration recently announced the availability of $500 million in funding to advance partner-driven solutions to conservation on agricultural land through the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). That’s Karen Woodrich with NRCS. RCPP leverages a voluntary approach to conservation that expands the reach of conservation efforts and climate-smart agriculture through public-private partnerships. Increased funding for fiscal year 2023 is …

NRCS Delivering Climate Solutions through the Inflation Reduction Act

Dan Climate Change, Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), USDA-NRCS

USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Chief, Terry J. Cosby, wants farmers and ranchers to know that the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 represents the single largest investment in climate and clean energy solutions in American history. It provides $19.5 billion from fiscal years 2023 to 2027 for climate smart agriculture through several of the conservation programs that NRCS implements. Last February, they announced $850 …

Regional Conservation Partnership Program Applications Open

Dan Conservation, Environment, Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), USDA-NRCS

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) has $500 million in funding available to advance partner-driven solutions to conservation on agricultural land. RCPP leverages a voluntary approach to conservation that expands the reach of conservation efforts and climate-smart agriculture through public-private partnerships. Increased funding for fiscal year 2023 is made possible by the Inflation Reduction Act, and …