Articles tagged under: NRCS
USDA Promotes Water Bank Program
Published April 7, 2021
The Agriculture Department is investing $4 million in the Prairie Pothole Region of Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota to encourage enrollment in the Water Bank Program. Eligible landowners will receive a payment of $50 per acre for cropland, $35…Former NRCS Chief Passes
Published February 18, 2021
Former USDA NRCS Chief and South Dakota native, Paul Johnson, passed away earlier this week. Johnson worked for the USDA from 1994 to 1997. During his time at the USDA, Johnson helped develop and implement the conservation title of the…Wetlands Determination Reform Proposed
Published October 2, 2020
South Dakota Senator Mike Rounds has introduced legislation to reform the Natural Resources Conservation Service. North Dakota Senator Kevin Cramer supports this measure, saying it will make positive changes to the wetland determination process. "This is common sense. This bill…House Ag Committee Chair Blasts New NRCS Program
Published January 29, 2020
The NRCS has launched the Conservation Assessment Ranking Tool. NRCS Chief Matt Lohr highlighted CART during an appearance before congressional subcommittee Tuesday. "It will actually do an assessment on what practices are most beneficial for that operation and automatically rank…Abuse Cited for Wetland Determination Appeals
Published September 19, 2019
American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall is urging USDA to change its appeals process for wetland determinations. The letter follows a recent federal court decision that found fault with the NRCS appeals process. Duvall said farmers and ranchers are…Conservation Easement Funds Available
Published July 25, 2019
The NRCS is making more than $217 million available to fund conservation easements on lands damaged by flooding and other natural disasters. The money is from the Emergency Watershed Protection Program. Eleven states are eligible for the funds, including Minnesota…More Transparency Promised in Wetlands Determinations
Published May 15, 2019
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service is meeting with stakeholders and working through the public comments on the interim wetlands rule. Conservation compliance and water management regulations have caused heartburn in the past, particularly in the Prairie Pothole Region. NRCS Chair…Trump Administration May Make Changes to Wetlands Determinations
Published July 23, 2018
Agri-Pulse is reporting that USDA will soon announce an interim final rule that will make changes for wetlands determination. The changes include the certification of wetlands determinations made between 1990 and 1996 and streamline the Swampbuster exemptions that can be…