Brent Van Dyke is incoming President for the National Association of Conservation Districts. He traveled from the southwest corner of the country to the midwest for the National Association of Farm Broadcasting annual convention to share the message of conservation. “We represent over 3,000 soil and water districts in America. There is a soil and water district in almost every county … Read More
Accepting Applications for USDA Conservation Grants
The USDA is accepting proposals for projects designed to provide new conservation opportunities. The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is investing up to $25 million for applications that encourage the development and adoption of conservation technologies in areas like conservation finance, data analytics and precision conservation. “Conservation Innovation Grants have played a critical role in developing and implementing creative new … Read More
USDA Finalizes Conservation Easement Program Rule
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has published a final rule on the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP), which was created in the 2014 Farm Bill to consolidate provisions in three previous conservation easement programs. The rule changes are designed to “make the program more flexible and responsive to the unique needs of farmers and ranchers in each region of … Read More
Grassland Oregon Offers Pollinator Seed Mix
Grassland Oregon has announced the launch of Pastures for Pollinators, a new seed mix that includes a variety of flowering annual clovers to support sustainable livestock farming in the United States and increase pollinator populations. Pollinators across the U.S. have been declining over the last five decades, with habitat loss acting as a major contributor to this issue, which has … Read More
Soil Health Partnership Field Days Come to Close
The Soil Health Partnership (SHP) field days are coming to an end for this growing season after the series hosted 40 different events in eight states throughout the summer. The events were mainly hosted by farmers enrolled in the program and had regular cooperation from local groups, and were held with the intention of spreading the word about cover crops, … Read More
USDA Implements Restoration Strategy for Gulf-area
Robert Bonnie, Under Secretary for the USDA‘s Natural Resources and Environment, announced a new restoration strategy following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The program is a three-year, $328 million project that will focus on improving water quality and healing ecosystems in the lands around the Gulf of Mexico. This strategy will be the guide for the USDA’s efforts on private land. … Read More
USDA Designates $26 Million For Ag Innovation
The USDA is investing $26.6 million in 45 projects across the country. These projects were selected to encourage conservation initiatives in rural and urban areas. The investment will be matched by public and private entities, making the grand total $59 million. The investment will go through the USDA’s Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) program. As of 2009 CIG has funded 414 national … Read More
USDA Announces Changes for Conservation Program
The USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service is responding to customer and partner input. They are announcing an update to the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), the nation’s largest conservation program based on acres. During the new enrollment period later this year CSP will be offering producers more options for improving conditions on working lands. “After hearing from farmers, ranchers, and partners … Read More
IAWA Forms Business Council
The Iowa Agriculture Water Alliance (IAWA) has formed a Business Council to assist with implementing the state’s water ag quality efforts. The initiative will be co-chaired by Ray Gaesser, a farmer from Corning, Iowa and past-president of the American Soybean Association, along with Iowa Ag Secretary Bill Northey. Also during the 2016 Farm Progress Show, Northey premiered IAWA’s new conservation … Read More
Midwest Row Crop Collaborative Launches
The Midwest Row Crop Collaborative was announced during the 2016 Farm Progress Show this week to add more support to on-farm conservation programs and practices. First out of the gate, the Collaborative will raise $4 million dollars over five years to support the Soil Health Partnership (SHP), a National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) initiative. The Collaborative was created to support, … Read More