What’s the difference between a crop field and a large commercial plant nursery? As it turns out, very little — at least in terms of runoff generation. Although nurseries generally grow tree crops and ornamental plants in pots rather than fields, both field crops and nursery planters contribute to water pollution when rain washes excess […]
More than 40,000 different varieties of rice are grown on every continent (except Antarctica), making rice one of the world’s best-loved food crops. And according to new findings from U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) researchers, rice crops also have a secondary function: They keep pesticides and other contaminants out of vulnerable waterways. The problem […]
According to a March 21 memorandum, federal funding for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will decrease by 31% if Congress approves the President’s Budget for 2018 fiscal year. The decrease would cut funding for several voluntary and region-specific EPA programs to refocus the agency toward its “core statutory responsibilities,” the memo states. David Bloom, […]
While it may be true that “money doesn’t grow on trees,” the City of Hamilton (Ontario, Canada) wants residents and visitors to know that each tree can add thousands of dollars to the value of its surrounding community. To help raise awareness of both the economic and ecological benefits provided by local trees, city environmental […]
A state program certifying farms for protecting water quality is transitioning from four pilot areas to a statewide initiative available to all Minnesota agricultural producers. The expansion of the Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program (MAWQCP) is made possible through a 5-year, $9 million award from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and legislation enacted earlier this […]
On May 4,the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced an investment of up to $235 million to improve the nation’s water quality, combat drought, enhance soil health, support wildlife habitat, and protect agricultural viability. The funding is provided through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), the newest conservation tool of the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation […]
On March 21, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced $332 million in financial and technical assistance through the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP). Private landowners, tribes, and eligible entities are encouraged to apply with USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) by May 15. The goal of the program is to provide long-term protection of […]
On Feb. 26, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that it is accepting public comments until April 28 on an interim final rule for the new Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP). The program is designed to help producers protect working agricultural lands and wetlands. The 2014 Farm Bill consolidated three previous conservation easement programs […]
On Jan. 14, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack announced that 115 high-impact projects across all 50 U.S. states and Puerto Rico will receive more than $370 million in federal funding as part of the new U.S. Department of Agriculture Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). In addition, these projects will leverage an estimated $400 million more […]
On Dec. 16, President Obama signed into law an omnibus appropriations package that will fund the federal government for the remaining nine and a half months of Fiscal Year 2015 (FY15). The $1.1 trillion package funds all of the federal agencies except the Department of Homeland Security. The FY15 omnibus appropriations package will fund the […]
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