While Hurricane Ida made landfall in Louisiana this past weekend, its effects have been felt this week in many other states, including parts of Alabama, Florida and Georgia. And this is a good time to remind landowners that USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) may be able to help afterwards through their Emergency Watershed Protection Program (EWP). If your area suffered damage from Ida, or …
NCGA to EPA: Don’t Saddle Farmers with Unnecessary Water Regulations
A National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) leader says federal regulations on remote bodies of water will hurt farmers without providing any significant improvement to water quality. This is what Andy Jobman, chair of NCGA’s Stewardship Action Team, told the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Tuesday. Jobman said, “The EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers must not assume that achieving desired water …
2022 Farmers’ Almanac Released This Week
The 2022 Farmers’ Almanac hits store shelves this week and contains 184 pages of helpful tips, calendars, and guides to help you plan your year ahead. It also features weather forecasts for the next 16 months, plus useful advice on ways to take cues from nature to live a more sustainable lifestyle. Editor Pete Geiger states, “we encourage readers to …
Partnership Opportunities for Wetland Conservation
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will be investing up to $17 million to help protect and restore critical wetlands on agricultural lands through the Wetland Reserve Enhancement Partnership (WREP). And USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) wants to remind conservation partners the deadline for proposals is August 15, 2021. NRCS Easement Program Division Director Carrie Lindig says this WREP funding will …
ICYMI: Commissioner Nikki Fried Announces FDACS Clean Water Initiative
(Tallahassee, Fla./August 6, 2021) — Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried held a series of events across Florida announcing the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) Office of Agricultural Water Policy Clean Water Initiative, updating and strengthening the Department’s water policies to better protect the state’s natural resources. At stops in Fort Myers, Sarasota, Tampa, St. Pete, and Stuart, Commissioner Fried met with scientists, environmental advocates, and local elected officials to roll …
AFBF, Senators Concerned with Possible Water Rule Roll Back
The fight over the Biden EPA’s move to roll back the Trump EPA’s Navigable Waters Protection Rule that reversed WOTUS is heating up. At least 30 GOP farm-state senators are behind a bill to make permanent last year’s Navigable Waters Protection Rule that reversed Obama WOTUS and its wetlands permit requirements. The issue is a major concern for the American …
EPA and Army Corps Announce Next Steps on Writing WOTUS
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Army Corps announced plans for community engagements to let people know about their efforts to revise the definition of “WOTUS,” or the Waters of the U.S rule. The goal of the rewrite is to better ensure clean and safe water for everyone. The EPA and the Army Corps say they are committed to …
Fried Looks to Update Water Rules
(NSF/August 2, 2021) — Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, who is running to be the Democratic gubernatorial candidate, began a series of appearances Monday to highlight water-related problems including algae blooms and a spike in manatee deaths. Fried said the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Office of Agricultural Water Policy is moving forward with updating “best management practice” rules …
Keep Plants Hydrated this Summer and Saving Some Money
Some ways to keep your plants well hydrated this summer while saving yourself some money. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. All plants need water, especially during summer. When you add up how much watering your garden can cost you over a whole growing season, it can come to hundreds, even thousands of dollars. One of the best …
USDA Seeking Partnerships to Restore Wetland Ecosystems
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) wants to remind conservation partners that they will be investing up to $17 million to help protect and restore critical wetlands on agricultural lands through the Wetland Reserve Enhancement Partnership (WREP). USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is prioritizing proposals that focus on assisting historically underserved producers conserving wetlands. But, the deadline for proposals from partners …