Items Tagged with 'Natural Resources Conservation Service'

William “Bill” Richards, a soil conservation pioneer who served as chief of USDA’s Soil Conservation Service (now Natural Resources Conservation Service) from 1990-1993 under President George H.W. Bush, died Tuesday. He was 93.

The Agriculture Department is launching an effort to better utilize conservation programs to create corridors for wildlife to pass through, Secretary Tom Vilsack announced Monday. 

USDA is relying heavily on outside groups and federal retirees to help farmers use the billions of dollars in new conservation funding for climate-smart practices. Based on data provided to Agri-Pulse under the Freedom of Information Act, the Natural Resources Conservation Service now employs about 5,000 people a year who work for partner organizations. 

Partnership staff are integral to the Natural Resources Conservation Service’s strategy to meet an expected surge in demand for conservation planning and design work after seeing a $19.5 billion infusion into conservation programs through the Inflation Reduction Act.

Spending for USDA and FDA would be increased by 3% in fiscal 2025 under a bill advanced by the Senate Appropriations Committee on Thursday, drawing a sharp contrast with the House GOP version of the measure.

In this opinion piece, Brad Hunter, a farmer in northwest Indiana, highlights the benefits of using climate-friendly agriculture techniques and says lawmakers should protect funding for these practices.