Florida NRCS News

• NRCS Funds Available for Water Quality Projects in Florida   Sign up by June 15, 2012 for FY 2012 funding
  Gainesville, FL., May 08, 2012 — Florida agricultural producers in three watersheds will receive targeted funding to improve water quality through a new National Water Quality Initiative. USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will manage the initiative by making $741, 000 available to farmers, ranchers and forest landowners in the selected watersheds.

• Volunteers Honored During National Volunteer Week  National Volunteer Week April 15-21
  Gainesville, FL., April 12, 2012 – USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is celebrating National Volunteer Week April 15-21 by honoring Earth Team volunteers in Florida and expressing appreciation for their dedicated service and commitment to conservation. The Earth Team is NRCS’ volunteer workforce. Nationally, in fiscal year 2011, 22,000 Earth Team volunteers donated 435,653 hours of service totaling $9.3 million. NRCS State Conservationist Carlos Suarez said Earth Team volunteers are making an environmental impact in Florida. Last year, 237 volunteers donated 9,899 hours in Florida.

• Earth Day and USDA 150th Anniversary Event    The Public in invited to this free event on April 19, 2012
  Brooksville, FL., April 9, 2012 – NRCS will be celebrating Earth Day at their Plant Materials Center in Brooksville, Florida on April 19, 2012. This year will also include a celebration of the 150th Anniversary of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). The event is free and open to people of all ages.

• Announcing New Wildlife Conservation Efforts to Protect Gopher Tortoise Habitat    1st cutoff date April 30, 2012
  Gainesville, FL., March 27, 2012—The USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Florida is currently taking applications for technical and financial assistance on a new innovative partnership approach to restore and protect the habitat for targeted threatened and endangered species, while also helping other vulnerable and game species. Florida landowners can sign-up for assistance to help manage and restore habitat for the gopher tortoise.

• New program Offers Free Conservation Reserve Program Training For Conservation Professionals
  Gainesville, FL., March 22, 2012: The Conservation Professional Training Program is introducing a new initiative to train conservation professionals to provide the technical services associated with the USDA Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). The new initiative, funded by USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), is called the Conservation Reserve Program Readiness Initiative (CRPRI). The Conservation Reserve Program Readiness Initiative was developed to help meet the technical demands of CRP while maintaining the quality of CRP plans through training and mentoring of non-NRCS service providers.

• Applications for NRCS Organic Initiative due March 30
  Gainesville, FL., March 7, 2012– USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) State Conservationist Carlos Suarez reminds potential applicants to contact their local NRCS office soon to find out if they are eligible for the agency’s Organic Initiative. Applications for the second ranking period of 2012 are due at NRCS offices by close of business on March 30, 2012.

• Funding Available for Wetland Protection and Habitat Improvement    Proposals due February 10, 2012
  Gainesville, FL., January 24, 2012 — USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) State Conservationist Carlos Suarez today announced 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.

• Financial Assistance Available for Agriculture Producers    Apply by March 1, 2012 for Gulf of Mexico Initiative
  Gainesville, FL.; January 5, 2012 – If you live in the Escambia River or Middle Suwannee River Area watersheds, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) State Conservationist Carlos Suarez is encouraging eligible agricultural producers to sign-up for the Gulf of Mexico Initiative (GoMI) by March 1, 2012. The initiative is designed to help farmers and ranchers in Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas improve water quality and ensure sustainable production of food and fiber. GoMI, announced last month by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), will deliver up to $50 million nationwide in financial and easement assistance over 3 years in 16 priority watersheds.

• Florida Ag Producers Should Apply Now for Financial Assistance    Conservation Stewardship Program Ranking Period ends January 13, 2012
  Gainesville, FL., December 19, 2011 – Financial and technical assistance is now available to farmers and ranchers interested in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Conservation Stewardship Program. The program, also called CSP, is administered by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Producers interested in CSP should submit applications to their local NRCS office by January 13, 2012 so that their applications can be considered during the first ranking period of 2012.

• Additional Ranking Dates Set for Major Conservation Initiatives   Three ranking periods: February 3, March 30 and June 1, 2012
  Gainesville, FL., December 2, 2011 – 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. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced three ranking periods for Fiscal Year 2012 for these funding opportunities; in the past there was one per year. All three initiatives offer technical and financial assistance through the Natural Resources Conservation Service’s (NRCS) Environmental Quality Incentives Program.

• Opportunities Available Now for Conservation Assistance and Funding      Apply before October 31, 2011 cut-off date
  The USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Florida is encouraging landowners, farmers and producers to visit their local NRCS office now to receive more information and apply for conservation technical assistance and possible cost share opportunities.

• Florida Groups Win USDA Conservation Innovation Grants
  Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the selected proposals for the 2011 Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG); and Florida was well represented. The USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is investing nearly $22.5 million, throughout 40 states, in CIG grants for innovative conservation technologies and approaches that address a broad array of existing and emerging natural resource issues.

• USDA Announces Major Efforts with Farmers and Ranchers to Improve Water Quality, Enhance Wildlife in the Northern Everglades Watershed
  WEST PALM BEACH, Florida, Aug. 11, 2011 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced $100 million in financial assistance to acquire permanent easements from eligible landowners in four counties and assist with wetland restoration on nearly 24,000 acres of agricultural land in the Northern Everglades Watershed.
  Florida Leaders Applaud USDA Efforts to Improve Water Quality and Enhance Wildlife in the Northern Everglades Watershed

• Funding Available for Producers to Improve and Conserve Water    Signup Period Closes May 6, 2011
  Gainesville, FL., April 13, 2011 – Funding applications are being accepted for Dover/Plant City area farmers and ranchers to help conserve water and improve water quality on their agricultural working lands. The Agricultural Water Enhancement Program (AWEP) is administered by USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), which enters into agreements with conservation partners to help landowners plan and implement conservation practices in project areas established through the agreements.

• Help for Organic Producers Announced    Cutoff date is set for May 20, 2011
  Gainesville, FL., April 11, 2011 – USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Chief Dave White today announced another funding opportunity for certified organic producers and those transitioning to organic production to implement resource conservation practices on their agricultural operations.

• NRCS Honors Volunteers during National Volunteer Week
  Gainesville, FL., April 12, 2011 – National Volunteer Week is April 10-16, 2011. USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service is celebrating National Volunteer week by thanking and honoring its Earth Team volunteers for their service to conservation.

• Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Appoints Agricultural Air Quality Task Force Members
  WASHINGTON, April 1, 2011 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today appointed the members of the Agricultural Air Quality Task Force (AAQTF) for 2011 through 2012. The AAQTF provides recommendations and guidance on the development and implementation of USDA policy related to agricultural air quality. Yuch Ping Hsieh, PhD, Florida A&M University was one of the appointees. en Español

• Agriculture Secretary Vilsack and Assistant Attorney General West Announce Process to Resolve Discrimination Claims of Hispanic and Women Farmers
  Washington, DC, February 25, 2011 - Obama Administration's Efforts Will Bring Finality to Longstanding Claims of Discrimination in USDA Program Delivery  
  en Espanol (http://www.usda.gov/documents/Comunicado_No_0085.11sp.pdf) - Secretario de Agricultura Vilsack y Fiscal General Adjunto West Anuncian Proceso para Resolver Reclamaciones de Discriminación contra Agricultores Hispanos y Mujeres Agricultoras

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