Florida Ag Producers Should Apply Now for Financial Assistance

Conservation Stewardship Program Ranking Period extended until January 27, 2012

Financial and technical assistance is now available to farmers and ranchers interested in the USDA's Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP). Producers interested in CSP should submit applications to their local NRCS office by January 27, 2012 so that their applications can be considered during the first ranking period of 2012.

News Release

Deadline Approaching for USDA Conservation Innovation Grant Pre-proposals

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack reminds applicants that January 31, 2012, is the last day to submit project pre-proposals for fiscal year 2012 Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Pre-proposals support large-scale demonstration projects that test and prove original approaches to conserving America’s private lands.

News Release

Funding Available for Wetland Protection and Habitat Improvement

Proposals due February 10, 2012

NRCS announces a funding opportunity for wetland protection, restoration and enhancement activities on eligible lands in Florida. Funding comes through the agency’s Wetlands Reserve Enhancement Program (WREP), with up to $17 million available nationwide.

News Release
Website

Florida NRCS Announces State Technical Committee Meeting

The next State Technical Committee meeting has been scheduled for Thursday, February 2, 2012, from 9:00 AM – 12:00 noon.  Technical Committees serve in an advisory capacity to the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and other agencies of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on the implementation of the natural resources conservation provisions of Farm Bill legislation. Committees are intended to include members from a wide variety of natural resource and agricultural interests and are open to the public.

More Information

Additional Ranking Dates Set for Major Conservation Initiatives  

Three ranking periods set: February 3, March 30 and June 1, 2012

Florida agricultural producers have extra chances this year to be approved for cost share funding for the Organic, On-Farm Energy and Seasonal High Tunnel initiatives.

News Release

Notice to Florida Hispanic and Women Farmers and Ranchers

Process to Resolve Discrimination Claims

As part of continued efforts to write a new chapter for civil rights and resolve all allegations of past discrimination, USDA has established a process to resolve the claims of Hispanic and women farmers and ranchers who assert that they were discriminated against when seeking USDA farm loans.  Call 1-888-508-4429 for more information on discrimination claims.

More Information
En Español (PDF)