News from April 2023


Ranking Member Boozman Announces Two New Staffers, Full Republican Staff Roster

News Release: WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR), ranking member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, announced two new hires that round out the committee’s Republican staff for the 118th Congress.


Indiana flower farm builds high tunnel with help from EQIP

It is the decision the owner of any small, start-up business hopes to eventually face. When is it time to go all in, quit your other jobs and focus your full attention on the business?


USDA Cites Island Fresh De Puerto Rico Inc. in Puerto Rico for PACA Violations

News Release: Washington - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has imposed sanctions on Island Fresh De Puerto Rico Inc. (IFPR), Bayamon, Puerto Rico, for violating the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA). These sanctions include barring the business and the principal operators of the business from engaging in PACA-licensed business or other activities without approval from USDA.


USDA Offers Disaster Assistance to Farmers in Indiana and Nearby States Impacted by Recent Storms and Tornadoes

Agricultural operations in Indiana and nearby states have been significantly impacted by recent tornadoes and severe storms that caused widespread and extensive destruction across those states.


USDA Offers Disaster Assistance to Farmers in Arkansas, Indiana, Iowa and Wisconsin Impacted by Recent Storms and Tornadoes

Agricultural operations in Arkansas, Indiana, Iowa and Wisconsin have been significantly impacted by recent tornadoes and severe storms that caused widespread and extensive destruction across those states.


Application Sign-Up Deadline Extended for Urban Agriculture Initiative

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Alabama announced an extension to the deadline to submit applications for the Urban Agriculture Initiative The new application deadline will be Monday, May 15, 2023.


$165,000 available to conserve at-risk wildlife and Nevada’s rangelands through the Working Lands for Wildlife program

USDA’s Working Lands for Wildlife (WLFW) uses a win-win approach to systematically target conservation efforts to improve agricultural and forest productivity and enhance wildlife habitat on working landscapes.



NRCS Invites Proposals for 2023 Conservation Innovation Grants

USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Pennsylvania is now accepting proposals for its Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) program.


NRCS Awarding Conservation Innovation Grants to Support Three Virginia Projects

Three projects proposed by Virginia applicants have been approved for partial funding by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, which announced its latest round of national Conservation Innovation Grants (CIGs) last week in Washington, D.C.


USDA/NRCS Announces Two Conservation Innovation Grants in Climate-Smart Agriculture Awards for LSU

Last week, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $40 million this year for 31 new projects through its Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) program, one of the ways USDA brings together partners to develop innovative approaches to climate-smart agriculture.


Conservation partners to target salmon habitat on the Middle Fork Nooksack River

The Lummi Indian Business Council is working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service and partners through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) to provide financial and technical assistance for landowners and producers to improve salmon habitat in the Middle Fork Nooksack River Porter Reach in the northern Puget Sound area.


USDA/NRCS Announces Land Cooperative Agreement for Louisiana Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative, Inc.

Last week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced awards of $12 million in cooperative agreements for 49 projects that expand access to conservation technical assistance for livestock producers and increase the use of conservation practices on grazing lands.


Alabama NRCS Announces Joint Chiefs’ Partnership Project Final Sign-up Opportunity

USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service announces a second fiscal year 2023 sign-up for the Joint Chiefs’ Landscape Restoration Partnership Project called The Sustaining Gains in Longleaf Pine Restoration through Coordinated Cogongrass Control project.


Earth Team Volunteers Help NRCS Accomplish its Mission

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is honoring New Mexico’s Earth Team volunteers and celebrating their many contributions to natural resource protection during National Volunteer week, April 16-22.


USDA Offers Disaster Assistance to Farmers in Arkansas Impacted by Recent Storms and Tornadoes

Agricultural operations in Arkansas have been significantly impacted by recent tornadoes and severe storms that caused widespread and extensive destruction across those states.


Earth Team volunteers: Helping NRCS Texas accomplish its mission

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is recognizing Earth Team volunteer efforts throughout the nation during April 16-22, 2023, for National Volunteer Week.


Joint Chiefs’ Partnership Supports Forestry and Wildlife Conservation in Northeastern Wisconsin

The Northeast Wisconsin Forestry and Wildlife Partnership project has been developed through the Joint Chiefs’ Landscape Restoration Partnership (JCLRP) to address wildfire threats, water quality, and wildlife habitat.


Earth Team Volunteers Help NRCS Accomplish its Mission

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is honoring South Dakota’s Earth Team (ET) volunteers and celebrating their many contributions to natural resource protection during National Volunteer Week, April 16-22.


Prairie Pothole Region Receives Four Million in Water Bank Funds

United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) NRCS has been granted four million dollars toward landowner enrollment in the Water Bank Program (WBP).