A Suwannee County poultry producer talks about improving their efficiency and the environment with the use of best management practices and how USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service in Florida helped. Report (1:30 mp3)
AL NRCS Retirement
Natural Resources Conservation Service in Alabama Public Affairs specialist Julie Best is retiring after two decades of service with the agency. Report (1:30 mp3)
Florida Conservation Districts Meet
The Association of Florida Conservation Districts held its annual meeting last week in West Palm Beach and funding for conservation efforts was a major topic of discussion. Report(2:00 mp3) Report(1:00 mp3)
NRCS Chief on Program Payment Limits
The administration wants to see limits on farm program payments in the 2007 Farm Bill based on Adjusted Gross Income, but USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service chief Arlen Lancaster says conservation programs should be an exception. Report (1:00 mp3)
NRCS Chief in Florida
The chief of USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service spent some time in Florida this week talking with landowners and state officials and getting a tour of the Everglades. Report (1:00 mp3) Report (1:00 mp3)
Nutrient Management
Nutrient management is critical to water quality and a nutrient management plan helps producers to minimize the environmental impacts of raising livestock while improving the efficiency of their operations, according to agronomist Ben Moore with USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service in Alabama. Report (1:00 mp3)
Payment Limits for Conservation Programs
Provisions in the House version of the farm bill that include conservation programs in payment limitations may be addressed in the Senate bill, something Florida Congressman Adam Putnam tried to do on the House floor Report (1:30 mp3)
CSP Will Be in Farm Bill … or else
Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Tom Harkin of Iowa says the Conservation Security Program will be in the 2007 Farm Bill – or there won’t be a bill. Report (1:00 mp3)  Report (:45 mp3)
Suwannee Funds
The Ag appropriations bill recently passed by the House includes funding to continue the implementation of practices to reduce dairy and poultry runoff impacting the Suwannee River. Florida state conservationist Niles Glasgow with USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service says this cooperative program has been extremely effective. Report (1:00 mp3)
Year Round Land Management
Land management for any purpose requires planning, time, labor, and money. Most landowners, managers and operators are interested in wildlife, but they may forget to think about it sometimes, according to USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service in Alabama. Report (1:45 mp3)