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 […]
Conservation, Energy & Environment
Conservation Buffer and Wildlife Habitat CRP Enrollment Starting Again
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 […]
Conservation Stewardship Program Applications Due by May 31
On May 1, 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 on May 31. USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will accept slightly more than 12 million acres into the program. While CSP enrollment is continuous, interested farmers, ranchers, […]
For Immediate Release: Conservation Stewardship Program Applications Due by May 31
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 […]
House Subcommittee Debates 2014 Farm and Food Funding
Over the last two weeks, the House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee held a series of hearings to examine the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s and the Food and Drug Administration’s budget requests for fiscal year (FY) 2014. We previously posted about the first Subcommittee hearing of the year, which featured Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, and the second […]
Senators Introduce Bill to Protect Prime Grasslands
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 […]
Secretary Vilsack Promotes Cover Crops, Local Foods, Contract Fairness during House Hearing
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 […]
New Information Available on Conservation Stewardship Program Sign Up
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 […]
President’s 2014 Budget: Overview and Department of Agriculture
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 […]
Farm Energy Grants and Loans Available
USDA today released the notice of funding availability (NOFA) for 2013 for the Rural Energy for America (REAP) program. The NOFA appears in the March 29 edition of the Federal Register. REAP provides financial assistance, both grants and loans, to farmers and rural small businesses for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. REAP grant or […]
Nutrient Pollution Still Harms Our Nation’s Rivers and Streams
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 […]
Final 2013 Funding Bill Clears Congress
On Thursday, March 21, the House of Representatives voted 318-109 to adopt the Senate-passed continuing appropriations resolution, which will fund federal programs through the end of fiscal year (FY) 2013. The House did not make any changes to the bill, as amended and passed by the Senate yesterday by a vote of 73-26. Conservation Stewardship […]
Comment on FDA Plan for Human Drugs Used in Food Animal Production
For many years, the Keep Antibiotics Working Campaign — a coalition of health, consumer, agricultural, environmental, humane, and other advocacy groups — has worked to eliminate the inappropriate use of antimicrobials, including antibiotics, in food animals. This use has been flagged as a major cause of resistance in numerous pathogens to antibiotics that are important […]
House and Senate Debate 2013 Farm Funding Levels
Late on Monday, March 11, the Senate released appropriations legislation to keep the government running through the remainder of fiscal year 2013. Recall that the House passed its own FY 2013 legislation last week. Overview The Senate bill provides a total of $20.532 billion in discretionary agriculture spending, inclusive of a 2.513 percent “across-the-board” cut. […]
House Chair Introduces Food and Farm Funding Bill for Rest of 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 […]
Apply Now For Innovative Farm Conservation Project Funding
On Monday, February 25, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announced that it is now accepting pre-proposal applications for the Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) program. The CIG program is a voluntary effort to promote science-based solutions for the benefit of both the farmer and the environment. CIG applicants are typically non-governmental organizations, State or local […]
USDA Announces 45th CRP General Sign Up
On February 16 at the National Pheasant Fest and Quail Classic, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that USDA will conduct a four-week general sign-up for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), beginning May 20 and ending on June 14. This announcement marks the 45th General sign up in CRP’s 27 year history. Under a CRP general sign-up, USDA’s Farm […]
Natural Disasters Spur Crop Insurance and Farm Conservation Discussion
On Thursday, February 14, the Senate Agriculture Committee held a hearing on “Drought, Fire, and Freeze: The Economics of Disasters for America’s Agricultural Producers.” The first panel of witnesses consisted of Dr. Joe Glauber, USDA’s Chief Economist, and Dr. Roger Pulwarty, Director of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Integrated Drought Information System. The […]
For Immediate Release: NSAC Endorses Protect Our Prairies Act
For Immediate Release February 14, 2013 Contact: Greg Fogel, 202-547-5754 NSAC Endorses Protect Our Prairies Act Washington, DC – On Thursday, February 14, Representatives Kristi Noem (R-SD) and Tim Walz (D-MN), along with six additional cosponsors, introduced bipartisan legislation that would protect our nation’s remaining native prairies and prime grasslands. The Protect Our Prairies Act creates […]
AGree Issues 2013 Policy Proposals
AGree, an initiative to seek consensus on proposals to transform food, agriculture, conservation, energy, nutrition policies, today issued some near-term recommendations for the 2013 Farm Bill and other food and agriculture-related legislation. The five areas included – immigration and work force issues, nutrition and food systems, conservation, young people in food and agriculture, and agricultural […]
USDA Begins Wetlands Reserve Program Sign Up for FY 2013
The USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has given state NRCS offices the green light to begin accepting producer applications for the FY 2013 Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) sign up. States will establish their own application deadlines. Some state offices have already begun to accept applications. It is not yet precisely clear how many new […]
EPA Proposes Continued Focus on CAFO Compliance and Enforcement
Every three years, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) asks for public comment on its National Enforcement and Compliance Initiatives for addressing important environmental problems. EPA selects the initiatives based on (1) the severity of the pollution problem; (2) a determination that noncompliance with an environmental law enforced by EPA is a significant issue; and […]
Strengthening Policy for Soil Health and a Food Secure World
All week we have posted articles from people involved with USDA’s Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program about soil health and cover cropping. SARE offers a rich stockpile of research results and educational materials on these issues that will help farmers adopt best practices and also help inform USDA’s Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) […]
Researchers and Educators Collaborate to Teach Youth about Cover Crops
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resource Conservation Service recently launched a soil health initiative entitled, “Unlock the Secrets in the Soil.” The initiative aims to help farmers enhance soil health by raising awareness and sharing methods and success stories. This is the fourth post in a five-post series on sustainable soil management, research, and […]