What's New Archive

University of Wisconsin is going to host the Farm Succession Coordinator Certification Training this fall here in North Carolina. It will be a 2.5 day training in Shelby, NC, on Nov 7th through 9th. It is the prerequisite training needed to take the Farm Succession Coordinator Certification test. This would be a good training for any land trust staff who help farmers work through succession issues with conservation easements. To register visit this website

The annual event, this year titled “Southern Forests: Ecosystem Services Frame the Future,” brings together the leaders of state forestry agencies from 13 southern states along with the primary federal and private partners with whom we work to conserve southern forests. SGSF provides leadership in sustaining the economic, environmental and social benefits of the South’s forests, which are numerous and varied. 

When: Jun 06, 2022 08:00 AM to Jun 09, 2022 11:30 AM
Where: Greenville, SC
Register: https://southernforests.org/news-events/events-meetings/sgsf-2022-annual-meeting

Secretary Sonny Purdue announced on Nov. 12, 2020, the signup periods for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and the CRP Grasslands in 2021. Signup for general CRP will be open from Jan. 4, 2021, to Feb. 12, 2021, and signup for CRP Grasslands runs from March 15, 2021 to April 23, 2021. Both programs are competitive and provide annual rental payments for land devoted to conservation purposes. There will be a free webinar on January 14 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. MST. Register in advance for this meeting After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.  For more information, email Jeff Tranel or call 719-251-0990 

EarthX.org

USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announced today it is seeking public input on its existing national conservation practice standards as part of implementing the 2018 Farm Bill. NRCS offers 150-plus conservation practices to America’s farmers, ranchers and forest landowners to help them meet their business and natural resource needs on their working lands. NRCS is requesting public comments on how to improve conservation practice standards that support programs. The comment period ends April 25, 2019.  Learn More »

JACKSON, MS (Mississippi News Now) - Gov. Phil Bryant announced Thursday that he will appoint Rep. Andy Gipson as Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce. Gipson will replace Cindy Hyde-Smith, who Gov. Bryant appointed to the U.S. Senate. Learn more here.

The Adams County Soil and Water Conservation District annual tree sale is planned for Friday, Feb. 9th. Local sponsors again plan to give out free loblolly pine seedlings to the public at the USDA Service Center, 110 Northgate, Natchez. Read the article here, and for more details contact Adams County SWCD District Coordinator Theresa McGaughey at (601) 442-1790.

Check out this article from the Mississippi State University Extension Service highlighting (with statistics) some of the challenges of reaching landowners with conservation efforts. 

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is accepting applications for the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP), which provides financial and technical assistance to landowners and Native American Tribes with conservation efforts on agricultural lands and wetlands. The deadline to sign-up to be considered for consideration in ACEP’s fiscal year 2018 funding period is October 27, 2017. Learn more here.

Jackson, Miss. – The United States Department of Agriculture / Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is accepting applications for the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP).  ACEP provides financial and technical assistance to landowners and Native American Tribes with conservation efforts on agricultural lands and wetlands. The application deadline to be considered for fiscal year 2017 funding is February 24, 2017. Read the release.

CEDAR BLUFF, Miss. -- Ali Fratesi Pinion may be part of the millennial generation, but she farms more like her great-grandparents. Pinion and her husband, Dustin, operate Beaverdam Farms in Clay County on the principle that healthy soils create better foods and communities.

Read on here.

USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is adding 11 new projects to Working Lands for Wildlife (WLFW), the agency’s targeted, science-based effort to help producers restore and protect habitat for declining species on farms, ranches and working forests.

If you are a forester, private landowner, or state/federal agency habitat manager, then you will want to learn the results of a project assessing "Desired Ecological States Provided by Open Pine in Managed Forests," sponsored by the Gulf Coastal Plains & Ozarks Landscape Conservation Cooperative.  Why?  Because existing data was incorporated into HabPlan harvest scheduling software to simulate a variety of management options across 50 years.  The results identify options for providing open pine wildlife habitat conditions in managed forests across the region as well as biodiversity responses to those management options. The Society of American Foresters has pre-approved this webinar for one Continuing Forestry Education credit hour.

Register Here »

Landowners wishing to protect the habitat of the Mississippi River are invited to consider fee title acquisition or an easement program. Learn more here.

Through its Wetlands Reserve Enhancement Partnership (WREP), the USDA is awarding $44.6 million to support 10 wetland enhancement projects on private and tribal agricultural lands in 12 States. The WREP is a special option under the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program. Read the press release.

Researchers at the U.S. Geological Survey and the U.S. Department of Agriculture have published a new study that demonstrates that agricultural conservation practices in the upper Mississippi River watershed can reduce nitrogen inputs to area streams and rivers by as much as 34 percent.