Learn about EPA’s proposed water rules and what it means for the farming community… Read More →
Conservation, Energy & Environment
USDA Evaluates Environmental Impacts of 2014 Farm Bill Implementation Choices for the Conservation Reserve Program
On Tuesday, July 15, 2014, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) released its Draft Supplemental Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (SPEIS) for Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). The draft SPEIS seeks to assess the ways in which changes made to CRP in the 2014 Farm Bill will impact vegetation, wildlife, protected species, soils, surface […]
Conservation Stewardship Program Renewal Process Starting
Farmers and ranchers who enrolled in the the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) in 2010 can re-enroll their farms for another five years by submitting a renewal application to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resource Conservation (NRCS). The window to apply to re-enroll extends from July 11 to September 12. CSP is a comprehensive working lands […]
House Subcommittee Votes to Curtail Environmental Protections
On Wednesday, July 9, the House Interior and Environment Appropriations Subcommittee passed a bill to fund the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI), and related agencies in fiscal year (FY) 2015, which begins on October 1, 2014. The bill cuts EPA funding by $717 million, or 9 percent, relative to […]
Final Week to Submit Pre-Proposals for the Regional Conservation Partnership Program
Monday, July 14 is the last day to submit pre-proposals to the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). Through RCPP, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) partners with producer associations or cooperatives, units of state or local governments, Indian tribes, water or irrigation districts or utilities, institutions of higher education, or […]
New Report Finds that Wetland and Grassland Destruction is Common
On Tuesday, July 1, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) published a new report on the status of wetland and grassland loss in the Prairie Pothole Region (PPR) of the upper Midwest and Plains States. Wetlands The report finds that between 1997 and 2009, net wetland acreage declined by roughly 6,200 acres per year. […]
New Beginning Farmer and Conservation Crop Insurance Changes Announced
On Monday June 30, the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Risk Management Agency (RMA) released an interim rule outlining seven actions it is taking to modify crop insurance inline with the requirements of the 2014 Farm Bill, to increase access for beginning farmers and encourage natural resource conservation. NSAC supported the inclusion of several […]
Seasonal High Tunnels Support Conservation and New Farmers
New updates on how the Seasonal High Tunnel Initiative has benefited new farmers and encouraged additional conservation efforts…. Read More →
Promoting Sustainable Agriculture Solutions to Climate Change Effects
On June 25, the one-year anniversary of the President’s Climate Action Plan, the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) announced the availability of a document that articulates principles and recommendations for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to consider as it implements conservation programs under the 2014 Farm Bill that address the […]
Funding Available to Boost Declining Honey Bee Population
On Friday, June 20, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the availability of $8 million in Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) incentives for Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin farmers and ranchers who establish new habitats for declining honey bee populations on their existing CRP acres. These five states are home for more […]
House Subcommittee Holds Hearing on Clean Water Act Agricultural Exemptions
On Thursday, June 19, the Subcommittee on Conservation, Energy, and Forestry of the House Agriculture Committee held a hearing entitled, “A Review of the Interpretive Rule regarding the applicability of Clean Water Act agricultural exemptions.” The interpretive rule was included in the joint U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) […]
CSP Contract Renewal Process Begins Next Month
Producers can renew conservation contracts to extend critical environmental benefits…. Read More →
Funding Available for Turning Biomass Material into Energy
On Tuesday, June 9, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the availability of funding through the Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP) for the collection and transport of biomass. BCAP provides financial assistance to farmers and ranchers who establish and maintain new crops of energy biomass, or who harvest and deliver forest or agricultural residues […]
35 Organizations Urge House of Representatives to Oppose New Conservation Cuts
On Wednesday, June 11, NSAC and 34 other national organizations delivered a letter to the House of Representatives in opposition to the $536 million in conservation cuts contained in the House FY 2015 Agriculture Appropriations Bill. The letter was delivered as the House begins consideration of the bill today. The House bill cuts mandatory farm bill […]
Senate Subcommittee Hearing Examines the Impacts of Climate Change on Agriculture
On Tuesday, June 3, the Subcommittee on Green Jobs and the New Economy of the Senate Committee Environment and Public Works held a hearing entitled, “Farming, Fishing, Forestry, and Hunting in an Era of Changing Climate.” Subcommittee chair Senator Jeff Merkley (D- OR) opened the hearing by warning that climate change is no longer a […]
Funding Available to Conserve Sensitive Land and Support Beginning Farmers
New conservation opportunities for beginning, socially disadvantaged, or veteran farmers to access land through the Transition Incentives Program (TIP)… Read More →
USDA Announces Funding for New Conservation Partnership Program
Partnership opportunities available for organizations and farmers through the new Regional Conservation Partnership Program… Read More →
Senate Appropriators Pass 2015 Agriculture Funding Bill
What’s in the Senate bill for beginning farmers, food safety training, sustainable agriculture research, and rural communities?… Read More →
House Subcommittee Passes 2015 Agriculture Funding Bill
The House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee passed a bill to fund USDA and FDA programs in 2015… Read More →
Busy Week Ahead for USDA Funding in 2015
Next week is a big week for agriculture appropriations. On Tuesday, May 20, both the House and the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittees will debate and almost certainly pass their respective agriculture funding bills for fiscal year (FY) 2015. The full Senate Appropriations Committee will then take up the agriculture appropriations bill on Thursday, May 22. […]
New Climate Report and Impacts for Agriculture
On May 6, the White House released its National Climate Assessment “Climate Change Impacts in the United States.” While this is the third such report released by the White House, it is unique in looking exclusively at the domestic impacts of climate change. The report breaks down climate change impacts by region and sector, including […]
2012 Census Drilldown: Conservation and Energy
On May 2, USDA released data from the 2012 Census of Agriculture. The Census of Agriculture has been conducted since 1840 and currently is collected once every five years. This is the first in a series of drill down posts, looking at particular themes from the Census. To view the other posts in this series, […]
Funding Available for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Projects
On Monday, May 5, 2014, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the availability of grants and guaranteed loans for eligible farms and other rural businesses under the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) for fiscal year 2014. Applicants can also apply for a combination grant and guaranteed loan. Under this Notice of Funding […]
Conservation Easement Funding Deadline Announced
Act Now: Deadline for Conservation Easement Funding Approaching Quickly… Read More →