Last month, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced it is investing $7 million in eight projects to support the development of wetland mitigation banks for agricultural producers through the Wetland Mitigation Banking Program (WMBP). Through wetland mitigation banks, wetlands are restored, created or enhanced, generating credits that can be purchased by producers looking to compensate for unavoidable impacts to wetlands at another …
Ducks Unlimited, Sorghum Producers to Promote Water Conservation
Ducks Unlimited (DU) and National Sorghum Producers (NSP) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to cooperatively promote water conversation. This MOU aims to develop and expand a framework of cooperation between DU and NSP uniquely focused on water savings and market innovation. The partnership will support agricultural producers and surrounding rural communities by promoting water-efficient practices, expand critical waterfowl habitat that also …
New Report on Irrigation and Water Management
A new report shows the updated numbers concerning irrigation and water management. Mark Oppold has more details. Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsNovember 1, 2024Nuseed Carinata Covers New GroundOctober 1, 2024TriEst Ag Group: Partners in ProfitabilityApril 1, 2024
American Agriculture History Minute: Irrigation Developed in the Great American Desert
I’m Mark Oppold with an American Agriculture History Minute. Agriculture in what is now Colorado began taking shape in the early 1850s. Then Rocky Mountain News founder William N. Byers passed out seeds to make his newspaper the principal chronicle of early farming in Colorado. By the 1870s, Byers facilitated the colony of Greeley, Colorado’s first major agricultural settlement and …
USDA-NRCS Accepting ACEP Applications
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced that funding from the Inflation Reduction Act is being used for the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) for fiscal year 2025.? The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) accepts applications year-round for ACEP Agricultural Land Easements (ACEP-ALE) and Wetland Reserve Easements (ACEP-WRE). But, interested producers, landowners, and partners should apply by the next two ranking dates, …
Florida Seeks to Speed Up Wetlands Case
(NSF/TALLAHASSEE, FL/March 13. 2024) — Florida is asking a federal judge to speed up a final ruling in a high-stakes case about permitting authority for projects that affect wetlands, as the state sets the stage for a likely appeal. U.S. District Judge Randolph Moss on Feb. 15 ruled that federal officials did not follow required steps in 2020 before transferring …
NRCS Seeking Public Comment on Conservation Practices
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is seeking public comment on proposed revisions to eight national conservation practice standards. Proposed revisions to the national conservation practice standards include: Comments should be submitted via regulations.gov or via mail by March 4, 2024. NRCS regularly reviews all national conservation practices to seek opportunities to increase flexibility and incorporate new technologies to help the nation’s farmers, ranchers, and private …
Improving the Bottom Line with FieldNET Irrigation Technology
If you’re looking to save time and money in the new year, look to your irrigation system. According to Director of Ag Technology Sales for Lindsay, Tanner Oliphant, advancements in the FieldNET irrigation system can save growers both. “If the pivot gets stuck in the middle of the night, they’re going to get a text message. Before, they may be …
Southeastern Storm Impacts to Soils and Waterways
Rain is in the forecast for much of the Southeast over the next few days. USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey looks at potential impacts from the storm system coming in from the Gulf Coast and how it could impact soils, pastures, and waterways important to agriculture. Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsNovember 1, 2024Nuseed Carinata Covers New GroundOctober 1, 2024TriEst Ag Group: …
Nominations Open for Animal Agriculture Water Quality Committee
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a Federal Register Notice on November 16 establishing the Animal Agriculture Water Quality Subcommittee. It’s under the umbrella of the Farm, Ranch, and Rural Communities Federal Advisory Committee. Nominations are open for members who want to serve on the subcommittee. The primary subcommittee goal will be to develop recommendations that will inform the Agency’s …