Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) offices around the country are gearing up to take in a surge of Inflation Reduction Act funding centered around the conservation programs they operate.
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Tag: NRCS
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The USDA released a Request for Information (RFI), soliciting feedback on NRCS implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The NRCS team has been working over the past several months to prepare for implementation, including efforts to expand capacity, streamline program delivery, quantify outcomes, leverage partnerships, maximize climate benefits, and advance equity.
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced it will invest $15 million this year for the Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) Classic program. Through CIG, grantees work to address our nation's water quality, water quantity, air quality, soil health and wildlife habitat challenges, all while supporting agricultural production. This year’s funding priorities are climate-smart agriculture, addressing invasive species and conservation in urban agricultural systems.
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The Inflation Reduction Act includes approximately $1 billion for conservation technical assistance, which allows NRCS and conservation districts across the country to get boots on the ground to support producers implement conservation. This legislation also provides $18 billion for voluntary conservation programs administered by the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) between Fiscal Years 2023 and 2027.
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In their continuing effort to reach out to interested industry partners, NRCS Chief Cosby and his senior staff briefed NLICA and other interested stakeholders on the Service’s recent activities. Chief Cosby highlighted the three agency policy priorities: diversity, climate and urban agriculture. You can view the three Powerpoint briefing presentations on the subjects.
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National LICA has developed a set of legislative and regulatory priorities to guide our efforts this year. The Executive Committee has reviewed and discussed the priorities and looks forward to continuing the dialogue on these issues with other LICA members and most importantly, government and elected officials.
LICA has joined dozens of others in asking Congress for robust technical assistance funding at NRCS. Once again, we will be sending an appropriations letter to Congress requesting no cuts to farm bill conservation spending and funding for the Conservation Operations (CO) / Conservation Technical Assistance (CTA) accounts at NRCS. Taken together, CO and the farm bill programs comprise nearly all of NRCS’s annual budget. This funding is critical to getting conservation on the ground and meeting many of our conservation goals, including on climate change. When finalized, the letter will be available at www.lica.org. Groups already signed on include:
• American Farmland Trust
• National Association of Conservation Districts
• National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition
• National Wildlife Federation
• National Young Farmers Coalition
• Natural Resources Defense Council
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is seeking public comment on proposed revisions to 23 national conservation practice standards through a posting in the Federal Register. The proposed revisions will publish March 9 with comments due April 8.
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Earlier this week, the Federal Register placed on public inspection USDA’s final rule for its Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP), which enables agricultural producers and private landowners to protect farmlands, grasslands, and wetlands with conservation easements. The rule, which will publish on February 4, updates ACEP as directed by the 2018 Farm Bill and incorporates public comments made on an interim rule.
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced it is seeking public input about water quantity in the west related to existing Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) programs. Acting NRCS Chief Kevin Norton will host a virtual, open public listening session Thursday, December 17 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern. If additional time is deemed necessary to hear all input, a second session will be held Friday, December 18 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern.
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