NSAC Archives for the 'Conservation / Land Stewardship' Category
Representatives Introduce Bill to Improve Farm Bill Conservation Programs
Thursday, May 9th, 2013
Today, Representative Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), along with eleven additional cosponsors, introduced a bill to improve current farm conservation programs. The Balancing Food, Farm, and the Environment Act (H.R. 1890) aims to help farmers and ranchers improve their environmental performance and reward them for the conservation benefits they produce. The other cosponsors of the bill are Representatives Read the Rest…
Six Former USDA Officials Send Letter on Conservation Accountability
Wednesday, May 8th, 2013
On Tuesday, May 7, six former Chiefs of USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) delivered a letter to the House and Senate Agriculture Committees, urging them to reattach conservation accountability measures to federal crop insurance premium subsidies. In the letter, former NRCS Chiefs Dave White (2009-2012), Arlen Lancaster (2006-2009), Bruce Knight (2002-2006), Pearlie Reed (1998-2002), Paul Read the Rest…
Conservation Buffer and Wildlife Habitat CRP Enrollment Starting Again
Friday, May 3rd, 2013
USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) has issued a notice to its state and local offices that on May 13, 2013, FSA will once again begin accepting offers for new contracts under the Conservation Reserve Program’s (CRP) four targeted subprograms: the Continuous signup (buffer initiative), Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program, Farmable Wetlands Program, and State Acres for Wildlife Read the Rest…
For Immediate Release: Conservation Stewardship Program Applications Due by May 31
Wednesday, May 1st, 2013
For Immediate Release May 1, 2013 Contact: Greg Fogel, 202-547-5754 Conservation Stewardship Program Applications Due by May 31 Washington, D.C., May 1, 2013 — Today, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack announced that applications for the fiscal year (FY) 2013 sign up of the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) will be due by May 31. USDA’s Natural Read the Rest…
Senators Introduce Bill to Protect Prime Grasslands
Thursday, April 25th, 2013
On Thursday, April 25, Senators John Thune (R-SD) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), along with four additional cosponsors, introduced bipartisan legislation that would protect our nation’s remaining native prairies and prime grasslands. Additional cosponsors of the bill include Senators Michael Bennet (D-CO), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Tom Harkin (D-IA), and Mike Johanns (R-NE). The Sodsaver Prairie Protection Act Read the Rest…
Secretary Vilsack Promotes Cover Crops, Local Foods, Contract Fairness during House Hearing
Tuesday, April 16th, 2013
USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack testified before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies today to discuss his agency’s FY 2014 budget requests. The Subcommittee will consider USDA’s requests as it writes its funding bill for the year. Conservation, Drought, and Crop Insurance Early in the hearing, Subcommittee Read the Rest…
New Information Available on Conservation Stewardship Program Sign Up
Tuesday, April 16th, 2013
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will very shortly announce the cut-off date for farmer applications to the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) for enrollment in the program during Fiscal Year (FY) 2013. Based on discussions with NRCS, we expect that the final sign up period will begin later this month and will last for 30 Read the Rest…
President’s 2014 Budget: Overview and Department of Agriculture
Thursday, April 11th, 2013
On Wednesday, April 10, President Obama released his budget request for Fiscal Year (FY) 2014. In this year’s ongoing budget saga, the White House is billing its proposal as a step towards reaching a “grand bargain” with Republicans over taxes and spending. (For more on the “grand bargain,” see a previous blog post.) Over ten weeks Read the Rest…
Nutrient Pollution Still Harms Our Nation’s Rivers and Streams
Thursday, March 28th, 2013
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released for comment a draft report entitled National Rivers and Streams Assessment 2008-2009 (Draft NRSA). Comments on the Draft NRSA are due May 9, 2013. For more information on submitting comments, you can download the Federal Register notice for the comment period. The major findings of the Draft Read the Rest…
House Chair Introduces Food and Farm Funding Bill for Rest of 2013
Monday, March 4th, 2013
On Monday, March 4, House Appropriations Committee Chairman Hal Rogers (R-KY) introduced legislation to fund the government for the remainder of the fiscal year (FY). The bill, known as a continuing resolution (CR), would replace existing funding legislation, which expires on March 27. Discretionary Spending As expected, the Chairman’s bill includes sequestration cuts, which would reduce Read the Rest…
