USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) works with agricultural producers to deliver voluntary climate solutions through climate-smart production decisions and practice applications. They have established conservation practice standards to guide the design, installation and maintenance of conservation practices. There are approximately 35 NRCS conservation practice standards that deliver quantifiable carbon sequestration and/or greenhouse gas reductions. On Thursday, April 29 at …
Dr. Hugh Hammond Bennett: Sparked the Creation of a Conservation Agency
Today’s farmers, ranchers, and private forest landowners are better prepared to maintain healthy and resilient soil due to the tireless efforts of Dr. Hugh Hammond Bennett, the Soil Conservation Service’s (SCS) first Chief and the Father of Soil Conservation, born 140 years ago on April 15, 1881. A maverick and visionary, Bennett knew that productive soils would help farmers, ranchers …
USDA Extends Deadline for Comments on Proposed Revisions
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announced it is extending the deadline for public comments on proposed revisions to 23 national conservation practice standards. Comments on the proposed revisions, which were published March 9, are now due April 22. NRCS is encouraging agricultural producers, landowners, organizations, Tribes, and others that use its conservation practices to comment on these revisions. They …
USDA-NRCS Extension for CSP Renewal Applications Closes April 7
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) wants to remind producers they are accepting Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) renewal applications until April 7 for contracts set to end later this year. The original deadline was March 31, but last week they announced it had been extended one more week. So producers with existing CSP contracts that close Dec. 31, 2021, can benefit from recent program changes …
Five Million Acres Enrolled in USDA Conservation Easements
Through partnerships with private landowners, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced the protection of more than 5 million acres of wetlands, grasslands, and prime farmland. Since last October, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has enrolled 110,000 acres in new conservation easements, bringing USDA to this conservation milestone. NRCS has offered conservation easements through the Farm Bill for …
USDA, Partners Unveil New Fire Mapping Tool
Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) unveiled the new Southeast FireMap, a fire mapping tool for the Southeastern U.S. that enables resource managers to improve their regional or local approaches to managing wildfire risk and fire management needs through targeted prescribed burns and training. Fire management helps improve forest ecosystem health, increases timber values, reduces the risk of wildfire damage …
Deadline Extended for CSP Renewal on Contracts Set to Close
Wednesday, March 31 was the deadline that USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) had set for accepting Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) renewal applications. But, that date has been extended one week, with the new deadline now being April 7. This is for participants with existing CSP contracts that close on December 31, 2021. Participants with existing CSP contracts that close at the end …
USDA Seeks Public Comment on Revised Conservation Practice Standards
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is seeking public comment on proposed revisions to 23 national conservation practice standards through a posting in the Federal Register. The proposed revisions were published earlier this month, and all comments are due April 8. The proposed revisions include: Stream Crossing- modification to allow vented fords as an alternative. Waste Treatment – Milk House- …
Southwest Florida Ranchers Reminded about Panther Program
Ranchers in Southwest Florida are being reminded you may be able to get paid for helping the Florida panther. USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Florida will provide technical and financial assistance for conservation practices that improve its habitat through the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP). But, the signup deadline is Friday, March 26. To be eligible for this Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) project, a producer’s operation must …
CSP Applications are Due April 2 in Georgia
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Georgia reminds producers the deadline to apply for the fiscal year 2021 Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) funding is April 2, 2021. While applications are accepted throughout the year, interested producers should submit applications to their local NRCS office by the deadline to ensure they are considered for 2021 funding. Through CSP, NRCS helps farmers, ranchers, …