Florida landowners interested in aligning their land uses with conservation values and practices have an opportunity to apply for U.S. Held or Entity Held Conservation Easements and/or Land Management opportunities. This is all in partnership with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service in Florida (NRCS-FL) and the North Florida Land Trust (NFLT). Landowners that applied for the recent Florida Department …
Florida NRCS Announces CRP Signup
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Florida has announced they are now accepting Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) applications for the fiscal year 2021. Through CSP, NRCS helps agricultural producers and forest landowners earn payments for expanding conservation activities while maintaining agricultural production on their land. CSP also encourages the adoption of new technologies and management techniques. Changes in the 2018 Farm Bill authorized NRCS to …
USDA Investing to Protect Communities in Florida
The U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA) will be investing more than $46 million this year through the Joint Chiefs’ Landscape Restoration Partnership for projects that mitigate wildfire risk, improve water quality, and restore healthy forest ecosystems on public and private lands. Through the projects, USDA’s Forest Service and Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) are working hand-in-hand with agricultural producers, forest landowners, and …
Florida’s First Conservation Easement Protecting Grassland of Special Environmental Significance Recorded in Columbia County
With funding support from the Natural Resources Conservation Service, and local and state partners, a 518-acre sandhill grassland ecosystem with over 243 native plant species has been permanently protected by Alachua Conservation Trust and North Florida Land Trust. Alachua Conservation Trust (ACT), North Florida Land Trust (NFLT) and partners are pleased to announce the finalization of one of the first …
USDA Seeks Members for Advisory Committee on Urban Agriculture
(USDA/NRCS-FL) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is seeking members for a new advisory committee on urban agriculture, part of a broader effort to focus on the needs of urban farmers. The 12-person committee will advise the Secretary of Agriculture on the development of policies and outreach relating to urban, indoor, and other emerging agricultural production practices as well …
Conservation Efforts Continue on Florida’s Farms, Ranches Amid Pandemic
(USDA/NRCS/FL) — USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service in Florida continued its conservation work across the state despite a year marked with a pandemic and natural disasters. The agency helped farmers, ranchers and forest landowners implement conservation practices to help conserve natural resources and boost their bottom lines. Additionally, NRCS launched new online tools that increased the efficiency, effectiveness and delivery of crucial …
Florida NRCS Severe Erosion Signup Ends Dec 4
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Florida is providing Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) funds to help agricultural producers address severe erosion and irrigation retrofit. But, applications for financial assistance are due Friday, December 4. Producers in these counties are eligible to apply: Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Holmes, Washington, Jackson, Gadsden, Liberty, Franklin, Gulf, Calhoun, and Bay counties. Florida State Conservationist, Juan Hernandez, …
USDA Invests to Protect Florida’s Natural Resources
(USDA/NRCS) — USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announced that it is investing $16,508,441 million in Florida for partner-driven conservation projects through its Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). NRCS will leverage $20,822,664 million in partner contributions. “I’m excited to announce the first RCPP awards under the 2018 Farm Bill,” said Florida State Conservationist Rafael Vega (acting). “Through collaboration and aligning …
Florida NRCS Extends Agricultural Land Easement Signup
The deadline for applications to fund Agricultural Land Easements in Florida has been extended to May 6. USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Florida provides financial assistance to conservation partners to purchase an Agricultural Land Easement (ALE) that protects the agricultural use of cropland, rangeland, grassland, pastureland and nonindustrial private forestland. Although applications are accepted on a continuous basis, funding selections are typically …
Florida Ag Land Conservation Easement Signup Deadline Extended
The deadline for applications to fund agricultural easements in Florida for 2020 has been extended to April 6. USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) provides financial and technical assistance to conserve working lands and wetlands through two programs: Agricultural Land Easements (ALE) and Wetland Reserve Easements (WRE). Although applications are accepted on a continuous basis, funding selections are typically made once a year. …