The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is making updates to the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP). Efforts include adjustments to the ACEP Agricultural Land Easements (ALE) as well as Wetland …
Signups for Grassland CRP Open Through May 26
The application window for the Grassland Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) is officially open. Farmers, ranchers, and private landowners will have until May 26 to sign up for the program from …
NRCS Invests to Assist Producers Transitioning to Organic Production
The NRCS is investing $75 million to assist producers transitioning to organic production. As part of the multi-agency Organic Transition Initiative (OTI), USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will dedicate financial …
Conservation Reserve Program General Signup Opens February 27
Signups for the General Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) will open on February 27. Agricultural producers and private landowners will be able to apply through April 7. Offered by the U.S. …
Inflation Reduction Act Adds Nearly $20 Billion to Support Conservation Programs
An additional $19.5 billion will be made available to producers and landowners through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will use the funding to further …
Multi-Agency Agreement to Enhance Conservation Efforts with Bolstered Support
A multi-agency agreement seeks to better support the conservation efforts of California’s agriculture stewards. The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), California Association of Resource Conservation Districts (CARCD), University …
Deadline Nearing to Apply for $63 Million in Conservation Funding Assistance
Agricultural producers still have an opportunity to apply for conservation funding assistance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Opportunities made possible through the farm bill include the Environmental Quality …
Soil Carbon Monitoring Efforts to Expand with $8 Million Investment
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will be enhancing soil carbon monitoring efforts with an $8 million investment. Building on the carbon monitoring network is part of USDA’s overall plan …
California’s 30×30 Conservation Plan Moving Forward
The 30×30 conservation plan dictated by an executive order from Governor Gavin Newsom is beginning to take shape. Initially signed back in 2020, the order commits California to conserve 30 …
RIPE Awarded $80 Million for Pilot Conservation Program
A big boost for a rural environment project. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Rural Investment to Protect our Environment (RIPE) and its partners have been awarded $80 …
USDA Invests $15 Million in Conservation Innovation Grants
Funding priorities for this year’s Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) Classic program include climate-smart agriculture, invasive species mitigation, and urban agriculture. The U.S. Department of Agriculture will be investing $15 million …
COVER Act Seeks to Further Incentivize Cover Crop Implementation
The Conservation Opportunity and Voluntary Environment Resilience (COVER) Program Act aims to help increase the use of cover crops. Introduced in the U.S. House by Representatives Cindy Axne and Sean …
Collaborating with Responsible Environmental Groups
Farmers and the environmental community are not always at odds with each other. Often, the agricultural industry and environmental and conservancy groups have overlapping interests, which can be better addressed …
USDA Seeks Proposals for Joint Chiefs’ Landscape Restoration Partnership
You only have about two more months to get in a proposal for the Joint Chiefs’ Landscape Restoration Partnership. Proposals are developed through a collaborative process between NRCS, Forest Service …