USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will provide $3.6 million in financial assistance for Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota farmers and ranchers to help conserve wetlands and improve habitat for migratory birds and other wildlife, control flooding and strengthen rural economies. The finding is available through the Water Bank Program (WBP). NRCS will accept applications from now until April … Read More
Secretary Vilsack Attends 5th Commodity Classic
He’s been a regular fixture at Commodity Classic, with this year his fifth appearance at the annual gathering of corn, wheat, soybean and sorghum growers. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack’s message to those gathered in San Antonio at this morning’s general session was how thankful he is for many things. “It is awfully nice to come here today to talk … Read More
USDA Updates CropScape Data Tool
Better information on cropland will be at the fingertips of farmers across the country, as the U.S. Department of Agriculture has updated its online geospatial exploring tool, CropScape. This National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) news release says CropScape has added Cropland Data Layers from crop year 2013 that gives the public an easy access to interactive data, without having to … Read More
Grant Applications for Conservation Innovation Efforts
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is accepting applications for competitive grants to develop and accelerate conservation approaches and technologies on private agricultural and forest lands. “Conservation Innovation Grants (CIGs) have contributed to some of the most pioneering conservation work on America’s agricultural and forest lands,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “It’s an excellent investment in new conservation technologies and … Read More
NRCS and Forest Service Partner for Forest Health
USDA has announced a multi-year partnership between the U.S. Forest Service and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to improve the health forest ecosystems across the nation. Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment Robert Bonnie made the announcement this week in Helena, Montana, near the site of the Red Mountain Flume/Chessman Reservoir, one of the first areas to be … Read More
WSS Update Improves Data Delivery, Customer Service
Data on soils on the nation’s 3,265 soil survey areas are now updated and available free online from USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service. This update, the first since the Web Soil Survey went online in 2005, features: Soils data for the Continental U.S. that flows seamlessly, without gaps, across county lines and other political boundaries; A full complement of national … Read More
Conservation Measures to Help California
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced USDA is making $20 million available for agricultural water conservation efforts throughout California to combat the effects of drought. “This $20 million will be directed to drought mitigation, focused on improving irrigation efficiency, providing producers resources to stabilize fallow ground and to assist with watering facilities and grazing distribution,” said Vilsack during a press … Read More
National Resources Inventory Report Summary
Findings in the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service’s (NRCS) 2010 National Resources Inventory (NRI) Report shows a boom in growing certain specialty crops, in agricultural land, stable erosion rates and notable land use changes. The report is designed to show a summary on the status, condition and trends of land, soil, water and related resources on the nation’s private lands … Read More
Attention Farming Entrepreneurs
The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) and The Georgetown University McDonough School of Business Global Social Enterprise Initiative (GSEI) recently announced a partnership to help strengthen rural America. The multi-year collaboration will address solutions to building greater economic opportunity and security for those who live in rural communities, starting with a program involving the Georgetown Entrepreneurship Initiative to advance rural … Read More
Deadline Extended for Conservation Stewardship
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has extended the deadline for new enrollments in the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) for fiscal year 2014. Producers interested in participating in the program can now submit applications to NRCS through Feb. 7, 2014. “Extending the enrollment deadline will make it possible for more farmers, ranchers and forest landowners to … Read More