Goals and strategies for advancing soil health were announced with the release of the Soil Renaissance Strategic Plan during the World Congress of Conservation Agriculture in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. “This Strategic Plan is a starting point that will evolve and expand as work is completed, new challenges are identified and more individuals and groups join the Soil Renaissance,” said Neil … Read More
Advocates at World Conservation Congress for Ag
The World Conservation Congress for Agriculture is being held for the first time in North America this week in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The event started on Sunday with David Montgomery, author of Dirt, who sees no-till farming as “the hope for a new agricultural revolution that might help us avoid the fate of previous civilizations. Monday featured Howard G. Buffett, Central … Read More
Farmers Awarded for Natural Resource Conservation
Like most agricultural producers in Florida, farmers and ranchers help maintain the quality of life we all enjoy. Their daily work maintains freshwater recharge areas, wildlife habitat and greenspace even they produce food for consumers here and across the world. The families have earned top recognition under the County Alliance for Responsible Environmental Stewardship (CARES) program. Created by Florida Farm … Read More
USDA Programs Help Land and Beginning Farmers
Farmers, ranchers and landowners committed to protecting and conserving environmentally sensitive land may sign up for USDA’s Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) starting today. In addition, retiring farmers enrolled in CRP can receive incentives to transfer a portion of their land to beginning, disadvantaged or veteran farmers through the Transition Incentives Program (TIP). “The average age of farmers and ranchers in … Read More
IFBF Members Urge Support of Conservation Programs
Iowa Farm Bureau members urge Governor Branstad to sign legislation authorizing additional one-time investments approved by lawmakers this year, including appropriations to the Water Quality Initiative, Soil Conservation Cost-Share Program, and the Ag Drainage Well Closure Program. A commitment to these important conservation programs will leverage private funds and are ideal areas to invest in Iowa’s water quality and soil … Read More
NACD Welcomes Rollout of USDA’s RCPP
The National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) looks forward to supporting the USDA in the implementation of the new USDA NRCS Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). The new RCPP program will promote collaborative projects that improve soil quality, water quality/quantity, and wildlife habitat in a specific area. The eight Critical Conservation Areas (CCAs) are: Great Lakes, the Chesapeake Bay watershed, … Read More
USDA Heralds “New Era in Conservation”
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today joined Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow to “launch a new era in American conservation efforts with an historic focus on public-private partnership.” Vilsack and Stabenow announced the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) today during a visit to the Saginaw Bay watershed of the Great Lakes agricultural region. “This is an entirely new approach to … Read More
Conservation Practices for Lesser Prairie-Chickens
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of the Interior today announced that farmers, ranchers and landowners implementing Farm Service Agency (FSA) Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) practices intended to protect and increase lesser prairie-chicken populations will not be subject to additional regulations as a result of the species’ listing as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The U.S. … Read More
Study Finds High Value of Rice Agriculture for Wildlife
There’s no doubt that rice, waterfowl and wetland habitats work cohesively to form a perfect ecosystem, and a recently published report puts a monetary value on those existing rice lands. Authored by Ducks Unlimited scientists for The Rice Foundation, the study found that the cost of attempting to replace rice lands with natural wetland habitat would exceed $3.5 billion. “I’ve … Read More
“Dirt” Author to Open Global Ag Conference
A well-known expert on soil health headlines the opening keynote session at the 6th World Congress on Conservation Agriculture (WCCA) on June 23. In his address titled, “A Case for Global Soil Restoration,” David Montgomery will speak on the need to reverse the trend of soil degradation, one of the most overlooked environmental crises that the world faces. He also … Read More