florida

Florida Seeks to Speed Up Wetlands Case

Dan Florida, Water, Wetland

(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

NRCS Seeking Public Comment on Conservation Practices

Dan Cattle, Conservation, Environment, Livestock, Pasture, USDA-NRCS, Water, Wetland

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 …

florida

Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Announces Final Project Acquisition List for Rural and Family Lands Protection Program

Dan Agri-Business, Florida, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), Forestry, Wetland

(FDACS/TALLAHASSEE, FL/Nov. 20/2023) — Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson announced the final project acquisition list for the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program following the program’s final public meeting which was held in Tallahassee to create a ranked list of agricultural lands eligible for protection. “Today is an important milestone in our pursuit of preserving Florida’s productive agriculture lands. …

acep

USDA-NRCS in Georgia Announces Sign-Up for Conservation Easements Program

Dan Agricultural Conservation Easement Program – Wetland Reserve Easements (ACEP-WRE), Agricultural Land Easements (ALE), Conservation, Environment, Georgia, USDA-NRCS, Water, Wetland

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Georgia (NRCS-GA) has announced a sign-up for the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) for fiscal year 2024. The ACEP is a program that has two components, known as Agricultural Land Easements (ALE) and Wetlands Reserve Easements (WRE). Georgia State Conservationist Terrance O. Rudolph said, “ACEP is a great way for landowners and eligible entities to conserve, …

everglades

Critics View FL Legislation as Potentially Harmful to Wetlands and Everglades Restoration Efforts

Dan Conservation, Environment, Florida, Water, Wetland

(NSF/TALLAHASSEE, FL/June 15, 2023) — Senate leaders weren’t going to let a year-old outburst aimed at state lawmakers go unaddressed. VoteWater, a Treasure Coast group focused on political issues related to restoring the Everglades, is raising cane over the Senate this spring not confirming the reappointment of South Florida Water Management District Governing Board member Jacqui Thurlow-Lippisch. “Few people in …

Conservation Easement Program Signup Deadline is Feb. 28 in Florida

Dan Agricultural Conservation Easement Program – Wetland Reserve Easements (ACEP-WRE), Conservation, Environment, Florida, USDA-NRCS, Water, Wetland

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Florida wants to remind agricultural landowners in the state who are interested in protecting their land uses with conservation values the fiscal year 2023 application deadline through the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) is Tuesday, February 28. NRCS in Florida is accepting applications for the Wetland Reserve Easement (WRE) component of ACEP. The program protects grazing uses and …

Florida Ag Landowners Reminded of Conservation Easement Program Signup Deadline

Dan Agricultural Conservation Easement Program – Wetland Reserve Easements (ACEP-WRE), Conservation, Environment, Florida, USDA-NRCS, Water, Wetland

Florida agricultural landowners interested in protecting their land uses with conservation values are being reminded about a fiscal year 2023 application deadline through the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP). The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Florida is accepting applications for the Wetland Reserve Easement (WRE) component. That sign-up deadline is February 28, 2023. NRCS accepts these applications year-round, but any received after that date …

gregory

Gregory as Director of the Office of Florida Agricultural Water Policy

Dan Conservation, Environment, Florida, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), Irrigation, Legislative, Regulation, Water, Wetland, WOTUS Act

(FDACS/TALLAHASSEE, FL/Jan. 18, 2022) — Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson announced the appointment of West Gregory as the Director of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ (FDACS) Office of Agricultural Water Policy. “I’m honored to appoint West Gregory to lead our Office of Agricultural Water Policy. West Gregory has the unique experience and skillset – having worked …

desantis

DeSantis Outlines Second-Term Environmental Plans

Dan Agri-Business, Conservation, Environment, Florida, Funding, Irrigation, Legislative, Water, Wetland

(NSF/TALLAHASSEE, FL/Jan. 10, 2023) — Gov. Ron DeSantis announced plans Tuesday to spend $3.5 billion in his second term on environmental projects such as restoring the Everglades and addressing water-quality problems. “This may be a bigger, more comprehensive executive order than we did four years ago. But I think that’s the right thing to do,” DeSantis, who was re-elected in …

wotus rule

Ag Reacts to EPA, Army WOTUS Rule

Dan American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), Irrigation, Legislative, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), USDA-EPA, Water, Wetland, WOTUS Act

NCBA Statement On New WOTUS Rule (NCBA/WASHINGTON/December 30, 2022) — The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) issued the following statement on the Biden administration’s finalized Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule. “For too long, farmers and ranchers have dealt with the whiplash of shifting WOTUS definitions. Today, the Biden administration sought to finalize a WOTUS definition that will protect both …