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
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
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
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
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 …
Florida USDA NRCS Seeks Proposals for Innovative Approaches to Urban Agriculture
Up to $1 million will be invested in Conservation Innovation Grants (NRCS-FL/GAINESVILLE, FL/May 9, 2023) — The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced the Natural Resources Conservation Service in Florida will invest up to $1,000,000 for Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) for urban agriculture, water conservation, carbon sequestration, and soil health. The deadline to submit a proposal for this CIG grant funding opportunity …
USDA Looking to Fill Soil Conservation Positions
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is ramping up hiring of new team members to help implement $19.5 billion from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) for conservation programs. A part of this initiative, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) recently opened job announcements for soil conservationists. This batch of job openings is part of a broader effort by NRCS to help producers develop conservation …
Legislation Seeks to Increase USDA Technical Service Providers
Legislation introduced in the U.S. House and Senate last week seeks to help address America’s shortage of Technical Service Providers at the Department of Agriculture. Technical Service Providers help producers deploy and manage conservation programs through one-on-one assistance. USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Chief Terry Cosby recently projected his agency would need to hire between 3,000 and 4,000 employees …
USDA Opens Full-Time, Entry-Level Soil Conservationist Positions across U.S. as Part of Broader Effort to Implement the Inflation Reduction Act
(USDA-NRCS/WASHINGTON/May 5, 2023) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is quickly ramping up hiring of new team members to help implement $19.5 billion from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) for conservation programs, which is part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda. For example, NRCS opened job announcements this week for soil conservationists. This batch of job openings is part of a broader effort …
Forest Management and Water Yield Tool Development and Synthesis of Outcomes for Embedded Wetlands
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) continues to promote wetlands and the importance they provide, including a suite of ecosystem services. This involves everything from fish and wildlife habitat, microclimate regulation, nutrient and sediment capture and storage, water storage to reduce flooding, and carbon storage with resulting benefits for climate change mitigation. The scope of these services may be significantly affected …