USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) offers a variety of voluntary programs to eligible landowners and agricultural producers to provide financial and technical assistance to help manage natural resources in a sustainable manner. Through these programs, the agency approves contracts to provide financial assistance to help plan and implement conservation practices that address natural resource concerns or opportunities to help save energy, …
USDA Seeks New Partnerships to Safeguard, Restore Wetland Ecosystems
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced they are investing up to $17 million for conservation partners to help protect and restore critical wetlands on agricultural lands through the Wetland Reserve Enhancement Partnership (WREP). USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Easement Program Division Director Carrie Lindig explains what this program is all about. Proposals from partners are due August 15, 2021 …
Climate-Smart Agriculture and Forestry Practices Program is Part of EQIP
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced $10 million has been earmarked to support climate-smart agriculture and forestry through voluntary conservation practices in 10 states, including Florida and Georgia. Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Deputy Chief of Programs, Jimmy Bramblett, says this pilot program is associated with a NRCS program many producers may already be familiar with, EQIP. Through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program …
USDA Investing Climate-Smart Agriculture and Forestry
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced they are providing $10 million to support climate-smart agriculture and forestry through voluntary conservation practices in 10 targeted states. This includes Florida and Georgia. The assistance, available through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), will help agricultural producers plan and implement voluntary conservation practices that sequester carbon, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate the impacts of …
USDA Provides Millions to Support Climate-Smart Agriculture and Forestry through Voluntary Conservation
Targeted Environmental Quality Incentives Program Signup to Open in 10 States (WASHINGTON, June 24, 2021) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is providing $10 million to support climate-smart agriculture and forestry through voluntary conservation practices in 10 targeted states. This assistance, available through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), will help agricultural producers plan and implement voluntary conservation practices that …
Assistance Helps Florida Farmers and Ranchers Conserve Natural Resources
Florida farmers, ranchers and forest owners can apply until September 1, 2021 for financial and technical assistance through USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). While applications for EQIP are accepted on a continuous basis, funding selections are typically made once a year and this is for fiscal year 2022 funding. Through EQIP, ag landowners may receive financial and technical …
Agriculture Sec. Vilsack Issues Proclamation Recognizing National Pollinator Week
(WASHINGTON, June 21, 2021) – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack issued a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) proclamation to recognize the designation of the week of June 21 – 27, 2021 as National Pollinator Week. Pollinator species, such as birds, bats, bees, and other insects, play an important role in producing more than 100 crops grown in the United States. Honey …
Florida Natural Resource Meeting Web Conference is Wednesday
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Florida will conduct a State Technical Committee meeting Wednesday, June 23 from 10 a.m.- noon Eastern. NRCS will seek recommendations and provide a report for fiscal year 2022 natural resource and program priority decisions during the web conference. That’s Florida State Conservationist Juan Hernandez. While the State Technical Committee has no implementation or …
USDA to Invest $5 Million in Wetland Mitigation Banks
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced an investment up to $5 million in the Wetland Mitigation Banking Program (WMBP). It is a grant program that supports the development of mitigation banks for use by agricultural producers seeking to maintain eligibility for USDA programs. Funds are available to Tribes, government entities, nonprofits, and other organizations. “Wetlands are critical to our efforts …
Florida State Conservationist Speaks to Cattlemen
A great crowd is on hand for the 2021 Florida Cattlemen’s Association Convention and Trade Show in Marco Island. Various speakers have already passed along information to ranchers from across the state. One of those was Florida State Conservationist Juan Hernandez. He told Southeast AgNet’s Randall Weiseman that USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) wants each producer to check with their local field office …