Articles Tagged with ''conservation''

In this opinion piece, Michael Crowder with the National Association of Conservation Districts offers guidance regarding the definition to “conserve” within the Biden administration’s America the Beautiful proposal.

USDA announced plans Tuesday to provide additional coronavirus relief to farmers, biofuel producers and food companies and to expand the Clean Lakes, Estuaries and Rivers conservation initiative, known as CLEAR30, to the entire country.

Terry Cosby, a longtime employee of the Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service, has been picked as the next chief of the agency.

Voluntary conservation efforts by farmers and ranchers play a central role in the Biden administration’s strategy for conserving 30% of the nation’s land and marine waters by 2030.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack denied Thursday that President Joe Biden’s goal of conserving 30% of the nation’s land by 2030 is a “land grab” but is instead intended to protect “private, working lands" through voluntary programs.

Amid calls for agriculture to engage fully in the Biden administration’s climate change mitigation plans, the director of USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture has outlined the agency’s priorities for funding and supporting public research.

The debate over climate policy usually includes some discussion about whether the U.S. crop insurance system should be changed to either incentivize more conservation or better address weather threats. Yet two experts said this public-private partnership is already reflecting changes in climate and new innovations in agriculture, with the potential for more targeted improvements to come.

Agricultural greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S., when adjusted for productivity, are down by 24% over the past 30 years, but farmers can do better if Congress and the Biden administration amp up assistance, says American Farm Bureau Federation Chief Economist John Newton.

USDA's NRCS is looking for new, innovative projects under the Regional Conservation Partnership Program related to climate smart agriculture and forestry.