California Ag Network

Category: Ag Legislation

  • Organic Trade Association Awarded Lead Role in USDA Organic Partnership Program

    The Organic Trade Association (OTA) has been selected as a national partner for the U.S. Agriculture Department’s (USDA) Transition to Organic Partnership Program, a key component of USDA’s broad multi-agency drive to expand organic agriculture by providing more direct support and technical assistance to producers across the United States. Rodale Institute, long a recognized leader in research and technical expertise on organic agriculture, will be the core partner to OTA.

    As the Lead Cooperator for this project, the trade association will manage and oversee activities throughout the country that support market development for organic products, facilitate the matching of organic producers and suppliers, and educate handlers in effective ways of dealing with organic products.

    The Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP) is a critical part of USDA’s $300 million Organic Transition Initiative (OTI) announced last year to help foster organic agriculture and make much-needed technical assistance available to transitioning and existing organic farmers. OTI is the largest single investment in organic agriculture ever made by the USDA. In announcing the program, USDA said its aim is to “build new and better markets and streams of income for farmers and producers” and reverse a trend of slow growth in farmers transitioning to organic, open opportunities for new and beginning organic farmers, and expand consumer access to organic foods.

    Through TOPP, USDA and its partnering organizations will provide locally-based farmer training and education in six regions throughout the country. The national-level TOPP agreements will supplement and collaborate with this regional work, providing nationally-focused coordination and services.

    “OTA is honored to be named national partner for USDA in this important program,” said Tom Chapman, CEO of the trade association. “Supporting market development and access for transitioning and organic producers and handlers is vital for the long-term success of USDA’s Organic Transition Initiative. By leveraging our experience and in-depth knowledge of organic, industry network, and collaborative approach, we know we can contribute to the success of the USDA TOPP initiative, and having Rodale as our core partner ensures even greater outcomes for the program.”

    “Consumer demand for organic products has been growing rapidly in the United States, but domestic production and handling capacity have not kept pace.” said Jeff Tkach, CEO of Rodale Institute. “Through this national partnership with the USDA and the Organic Trade Association, Rodale Institute, the global leader in organic agricultural research, education, and direct farmer support programs, will teach producers how to successfully adopt certified organic handling and processing practices. The Institute’s innovative organic consulting division will also provide on-the-ground training and market development assistance to producers across the nation. If one thing is clear, it’s that this critical and in-demand partnership will lead to better outcomes for both producers and consumers of organic agriculture in the United States.”

    Among the various activities that OTA, Rodale and other partners will develop are:

    • Technical assistance and workshops at the national and regional levels on the various aspects of developing markets for organic products, including educating and empowering farmers and handlers by addressing market trends, marketing and business strategies, and other relevant topics to help them succeed in the organic marketplace;
    • Strategies to connect organic producers with buyers, including the organization of in-person buyer/seller events and hosted buyer tours of regional areas that will provide a forum for networking and interaction, as well as listing participants in online clearinghouses and databases that allow for targeted searching;
    • The Handler Transition Training/Education program which will provide comprehensive training materials and educational resources to support handlers in effectively managing organic products, looking at such handling concerns as labeling, contamination prevention, storage, fraud prevention plans and more.

    “USDA’s Organic Transition Initiative takes real steps to build the next generation of organic producers and strengthen organic supply chains,” said Chapman. “We are deeply grateful for the opportunity to support this major program and to help organic continue its forward path.”

    About the Organic Trade Association

    The Organic Trade Association (OTA) is the membership-based business association for organic agriculture and products in North America. OTA is the leading voice for the organic trade in the United States, representing over 10,000 organic businesses across 50 states. Its members include growers, shippers, processors, certifiers, farmers’ associations, distributors, importers, exporters, consultants, retailers and others. OTA’s Board of Directors is democratically elected by its members. OTA’s mission is to promote and protect ORGANIC with a unifying voice that serves and engages its diverse members from farm to marketplace.

  • USDA Hiring Engineers, Natural Resource Specialists Nationwide to Enhance Ag Conservation

    Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced it is ramping up hiring for key positions that will help strengthen agricultural conservation efforts and turn President Biden’s Investing in America agenda into action. The available positions include engineers, civil engineering technicians and natural resource specialists, building on other large-scale hiring announcements earlier this year. The application period for engineer positions is currently open, and engineering technicians and natural resource specialist opportunities will open over the next two weeks.

    “Thanks to President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, we are building a robust workforce with the skills necessary to support communities as they address conservation challenges and respond to increasing extreme weather events fueled by climate change,” said NRCS Chief Terry Cosby. “If you are interested in leveraging your skill in engineering or the agricultural sciences to make a positive impact in your local community, you are exactly the kind of candidate we’re looking for. You would work with farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners, as well as other community members, to address a variety of natural resource conservation challenges and support our country’s investment in a climate-smart future for agriculture.”

    Today’s announcement is funded by $19.5 billion from President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act. The new NRCS engineers and engineering technicians will play a critical role in solving a host of natural resource problems for agricultural producers and local communities. Their projects may involve stream restoration, erosion control, developing water systems for livestock, improving and conserving irrigation water and restoring wetlands. They may also help communities recover from natural disasters.

    Natural resource specialists perform a variety of duties to help landowners meet their conservation objectives. This may include assisting in the implementation of conservation plans, conducting scientific studies and performing on-site evaluations with customers. Their work enhances conservation program delivery and helps build resilient farms and communities across America.

    “These positions offer outstanding benefits that set them apart from jobs outside of federal service,” Cosby said. “NRCS provides competitive starting pay with regular increases and locality pay adjustments, career ladders and advancement opportunities, flexible work schedules and telework, excellent medical benefits, paid maternal and paternal leave, and a pension where eligibility begins after five years of service, as well as a 401k-type retirement program with matching contributions by USDA.”

    How to Apply

    The announcement for engineers is currently open on USAjobs.gov and will close on June 30, 2023. NRCS will post an announcement for engineering technicians on June 26 and natural resource specialists on July 3. Interested candidates can find more information and apply by searching for these job titles on USAjobs.gov.

    To qualify for these positions, candidates must meet the education requirements, or a combination of education and experience requirements, as outlined in the job announcement. General qualifications for the engineering and natural resource management job series are also available on OPM.gov. Additional information on career opportunities at NRCS is available on the agency’s careers webpage. 

    More Information

    Over the next several years, NRCS expects to add over 4,400 new employees to its federal workforce, in addition to over 3,000 team members through partner organizations, to help with Inflation Reduction Act implementation.

    The Inflation Reduction Act is part of the Biden-Harris Investing in America agenda to grow the American economy from the middle out and bottom up, by rebuilding our nation’s infrastructure, driving over $470 billion in private sector manufacturing investments, creating good-paying jobs, and building a clean energy economy to tackle the climate crisis and make our communities more resilient. NRCS received $19.5 billion from the Inflation Reduction Act for our popular conservation programs to provide financial assistance to customers. Many of these programs support President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative, which is advancing environmental justice by ensuring that 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain federal investments reach disadvantaged communities that are marginalized and overburdened by pollution and underinvestment. To help with implementation, NRCS is also streamlining programs to make them more efficient and better for producers and partners as well as building new and existing partnerships to add capacity. NRCS is committed to supporting farmers, ranchers, private landowners and Tribal Nations, to build resilient agricultural operations, combat climate change, ensure equity and support voluntary conservation on working lands.

    NRCS accepts producer applications for its conservation programs year-round, and in some states, producers can still apply for 2023 funding. Interested producers should view their state ranking dates.

    NRCS is a federal agency that helps farmers, ranchers and forest landowners conserve soil, water and other natural resources. Employees provide technical expertise and conservation planning. Financial assistance is available for a wide variety of conservation programs. NRCS has offices in USDA Service Centers nationwide.

  • Governor Newsom Unveils Infrastructure Package to Secure California’s Global Leadership and Promote Economic Prosperity

    Urgent action is required to maintain California’s position as a global socio-economic leader. Governor Gavin Newsom has unveiled a comprehensive Infrastructure Package designed to address critical challenges, including meeting climate goals, improving the electric grid, enhancing water resilience, and modernizing transportation infrastructure.

    The Infrastructure Package is not merely about building infrastructure; it is about fostering progress and economic prosperity in our communities,” said Aubrey Bettencourt, President and CEO of the Almond Alliance. “By investing in sustainable water supply and efficient supply chains, the Infrastructure Package aims to ensure a thriving future for California.

    “California’s water infrastructure was constructed 55 years ago when the population was less than half of what it is today. Unfortunately, the repercussions of this outdated system are evident today, with one million Californians lacking access to clean drinking water, hundreds of thousands of agricultural acres lying fallow, and specific fish populations dwindling.”

    Bettencourt continued, “The Infrastructure Package presents an opportunity to establish a resilient water management system that benefits everyone, people, farmers, and the environment.

    “The transportation infrastructure plays a crucial role in facilitating the movement of agricultural products, such as almonds, for export. Improving highways, roads, rail transportation, intermodal facilities, and port infrastructure will enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance California’s competitiveness in global markets.

    “Streamlining permitting processes and reducing red tape is a key aspects of the Infrastructure Package. These reforms will save time and money for taxpayers, businesses, and local governments, creating a more efficient project planning and approval system.”

    About the Almond Alliance
    Almond Alliance is the leading authority in state and national policy, championing American almond farmers, industry, and community for the continued global growth, innovation, and success of American almonds and agriculture. As the voice of almonds, the Alliance represents the fourth-largest commodity in the United States and the third-largest American export.

    Established in 1980, the Almond Alliance is a non-profit trade association with a local and international network of almond processors, hullers/shellers, growers, and allied businesses. The Alliance is dedicated to providing resources and solutions for our members, ensuring industry success and growth opportunities. Learn more at almondalliance.org

  • $78,500 Check Presented to Valley Children’s Healthcare

    The International Agri-Center®, World Ag Expo®, and the Central Valley Toyota Dealers presented a check in the amount of $78,500 to Valley Children’s Healthcare during the All Guild Picnic held on May 24, in Madera, California. Valley Children’s became the fundraiser beneficiary in 2015 and $628,679 has been raised through the program to date.

    The check represented the total funds raised by the Guilds of Valley Children’s Healthcare, who participated in World Ag Expo’s® Toyota Tundra Giveaway by selling chances to win a new 2023 Tundra. The proceeds from the giveaway will directly benefit the Central California hospital.

    “The Guilds of Valley Children’s are grateful for our continued partnership with World Ag Expo and Central Valley Toyota Dealers to help fulfill our mission,” said Connie McClaskey, Chair of the Guild Coordinating Council. “It is truly amazing the support and generosity of our community for Valley Children’s and services they provide our valley’s children and their families.”

    The Tundra truck, won by Mike Gingles of Kings County on the final day of World Ag Expo®, was donated by the Central Valley Toyota Dealers, through their role as the Official Truck of World Ag Expo®.

    “This is one of the rewarding programs we do,” said Jerry Sinift, Chief Executive Officer, International Agri-Center®. “The Guilds do an amazing job driving this fundraiser. The Central Valley community and World Ag Expo attendees are always great supporters. We couldn’t do this without the support of our Central Valley Toyota dealers.”

    The 2024 World Ag Expo® Toyota Tundra Giveaway, benefiting Valley Children’s Healthcare, will kick off ticket sales this fall.

    The International Agri-Center® is home to World Ag Expo®, February 13-15, 2024 in Tulare, California. An estimated average of 100,000 individuals from 65 countries attend World Ag Expo® each year. The largest annual agricultural show of its kind, World Ag Expo® hosts 1,200 exhibitors displaying cutting-edge agricultural technology and equipment on 2.6 million square feet of show grounds.

    The Guilds of Valley Children’s Healthcare have been raising funds since 1949, having raised over $30 million. The Guilds remain dedicated to their long-standing mission of raising funds, advocating for children, and promoting goodwill for Valley Children’s Healthcare and their objectives of raising financial support and developing ongoing community support.

    The Central Valley Toyota Dealers have been a sponsor of World Ag Expo® for more than a decade, every year providing a Toyota Tundra for the giveaway and helping raise funds for the partnered charity.

  • SHA Scholarship Fund Honors Regenerative Ag Pioneer, Co-Founder David Brandt

    Regenerative farming pioneer David Brandt, who passed away recently from complications resulting from an automobile accident, will be honored with his name’s addition to the Kendra Brandt scholarship fund, the Soil Health Academy.

    In 2020, shortly after the death of David’s wife, Kendra, SHA established a fund in her name that provides SHA school scholarships to women and beginning farmers who are committed to growing the regenerative agriculture movement by implementing regenerative principles in their own operations or through regenerative agriculture education, outreach or policy advocacy.

    In a series of interviews for the Soil Health Academy in 2022, David recalled how his wife of 55 years, helped him focus and kept him from “jumping off the deep end” through his many cover cropping experiments and challenges.

    “As regenerative farming partners in life, we thought it fitting that David and Kendra be partners in the continuation of that legacy by having both of their names associated with this important and empowering scholarship fund,” SHA President Dawn Breitkreutz said.

    The scholarships will provide partial tuition funding for recipients to attend a three-day SHA regenerative ag school. SHA on-farm schools feature instruction by Understanding Ag, LLC’s world-renowned farmer-instructors, and other technical consultants, all of whom are widely considered to be among the most preeminent pioneers, innovators and advocates in today’s soil health and regenerative agricultural movement.

    Breitkreutz said that with today’s announcement, the non-profit organization hopes to honor, in perpetuity, the regenerative pioneering and teaching legacy of the couple who focused much of their efforts in life providing support and encouragement to women and beginning farmers in their regenerative journeys.

    “All of us are still mourning David’s sudden and unexpected passing, but we’re heartened to know that David’s and Kendra’s legacy of teaching, giving and caring will continue to positively impact the lives of the next generation of soil health-improving regenerative farmers and ranchers through this scholarship fund,” Breitkreutz said.

    To learn more about the David and Kendra Scholarship Fund, to contribute or to apply for a scholarship, visit https://soilhealthacademy.org/scholarships/ .

  • American Agri-Women “Road to Influence” Leadership Program Applications Due June 21

    American Agri-Women (AAW) members can apply now for the “AAW’s Road to Influence” personal and leadership development program.  The group is making history with this unique program that is for women only, from across the nation, from a variety of backgrounds in farming, agribusiness, ranching, forestry and the food industry.

    AAW’s President Heather Hampton+Knodle said, “We are not tied to one state or emphasizing one set of issues. It is not a “one hit wonder” one-day event.  We are investing in the growth and evolution of women so they can lead meaningful conversations and progress in their homes, work, communities, and the industry.”

    The 14-month program will launch in August in conjunction with AAW’s LEAP: Leading, Empowering and Aspiring to Progress event in Reno, Nevada which is open to all AAW members.  As they travel the AAW Road to Influence, participants will explore three phases: a deep dive into themselves to identify and manage blindspots and strengths; maximizing working in teams; and enacting a program or initiative to advance the AAW mission.  The program will integrate virtual meetings with intervals of three to four in-person seminars that culminate with graduation at the 2024 AAW Convention in Wisconsin.

    Applications are due by June 21st to the AAW Leadership Development Team Lead, Sara Reid Herman.

    The packet and membership information can be found at the organization’s website, www.americanagriwomen.org.

    About American Agri-Women

    American Agri-Women (AAW) promotes the welfare of our national security through safe and reliable food, fiber and energy supply. Since 1974, AAW members have worked together to educate consumers, advocate for agriculture, and offer networking and professional development opportunities. Go to the AAW website for more information and to join www.americanagriwomen.org. Find AAW on social media at: Facebook.com/AgriWomen/, Twitter.com/Women4Ag/ (@Women4Ag) and Instagram.com/americanagriwomen/ (@americanagriwomen). #standupspeakout4ag

  • Nominations for Farmers and Ranchers to Serve on Local FSA Committees

    The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is now accepting nominations for county committee members for elections that will occur later this year. Additionally, USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is unveiling a new GIS tool to make it easier for producers to participate in the nomination and election processes for county committee members, who make important decisions on how federal farm programs are administered locally.

    All nomination forms for the 2023 election must be postmarked or received in the local FSA office by Aug. 1, 2023.

    “Producers serving on FSA county committees play a critical role in the day-to-day operations of the agency, and they serve as the eyes and ears for the producers who elected them,” said FSA Administrator Zach Ducheneaux. “In order for county committees to be both effective and equitable in their decision-making at the local level, they must reflect the full diversity of American agriculture. I am excited that we have another opportunity through this year’s nominations and elections cycle to make our committees more inclusive, and in turn, better equipped to best serve all our customers. I encourage you to consider serving the farmers, ranchers and producers in your community on your local FSA county committee, and I thank you in advance for your public service.”

    Elections will occur in certain Local Administrative Areas (LAA) for members. LAAs are elective areas for FSA committees in a single county or multi-county jurisdiction and they may include LAAs that are focused on an urban or suburban area.

    Customers can locate their LAA through a new GIS locator tool available at fsa.usda.gov/elections.

    “Based on feedback from stakeholders, including the USDA Equity Commission, we are unveiling this new tool to make it easier for producers to effectively participate in the process,” Ducheneaux added.

    Agricultural producers may be nominated for candidacy for the county committee if they:

    • Participate or cooperate in a USDA program; and
    • Reside in the LAA that is up for election this year.

    A cooperating producer is someone who has provided information about their farming or ranching operation to FSA, even if they have not applied or received program benefits. Individuals may nominate themselves or others and qualifying organizations may also nominate candidates. USDA encourages minority producers, women and beginning farmers or ranchers to nominate, vote and hold office.

    Nationwide, more than 7,700 dedicated members of the agricultural community serve on FSA county committees. The committees are made up of three to 11 members who serve three-year terms. Committee members are vital to how FSA carries out disaster programs, as well as conservation, commodity and price support programs, county office employment and other agricultural issues.

    Urban and Suburban County Committees 

    The 2018 Farm Bill directed USDA to form urban county committees as well as make other advancements related to urban agriculture, including the establishment of the Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production. FSA established county committees specifically focused on urban agriculture. The urban county committees will work to encourage and promote urban, indoor and other emerging agricultural production practices. Additionally, the new county committees may address areas such as food access, community engagement, support of local activities to promote and encourage community compost and food waste reduction.

    Urban committee members are nominated and elected to serve by local urban producers in the same jurisdiction. Urban county committee members will provide outreach to ensure urban producers understand USDA programs and serve as the voice of other urban producers and assist in program implementation that support the needs of the growing urban community.

    The 17 county committees for urban agriculture are located in:

    • Albuquerque, New Mexico
    • Atlanta, Georgia
    • Chicago, Illinois
    • Cleveland, Ohio
    • Detroit, Michigan
    • Dallas, Texas
    • Grand Rapids, Michigan
    • Los Angeles, California
    • Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota
    • New Orleans, Louisiana
    • New York, New York
    • Oakland, California
    • Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
    • Phoenix, Arizona
    • Portland, Oregon
    • Richmond, Virginia
    • St. Louis, Missouri

    Learn more at farmers.gov/urban.

    More Information 

    Producers should contact their local FSA office today to register and find out how to get involved in their county’s election, including if their LAA is up for election this year. To be considered, a producer must be registered and sign an FSA-669A nomination form. Urban farmers should use an FSA-669-A-3 for urban county committees. These forms and other information about FSA county committee elections are available at fsa.usda.gov/elections.

    Election ballots will be mailed to eligible voters beginning Nov. 6, 2023.

    To learn more about FSA programs, producers can contact their local USDA Service Center. Producers can also prepare maps for acreage reporting as well as manage farm loans and view other farm records data and customer information by logging into their farmers.gov account. If you don’t have an account, sign up today.

  • USDA Accepts More Than 1 Million Acres in Offers Through Conservation Reserve Program

    Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is accepting more than 1 million acres in this year’s Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) General signup. This is one of several signups that USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is holding for the program. The results for CRP General signup reflect the continued importance of CRP as a tool to help producers invest in the long-term health, sustainability, and profitability of their land and resources.

    “This year’s General CRP signup demonstrates the value and continued strength of this voluntary conservation program, which plays an important role in helping mitigate climate change and conserve our natural resources,” said FSA Administrator Zach Ducheneaux. “Today’s announcement is one of many enrollment and partnership opportunities within CRP, including opportunities through our working lands Grassland CRP, Continuous CRP, and Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP). USDA will continue working to ensure producers and landowners have the information they need to take advantage of the options that work best for their operations.”

    Offers for new land in this General CRP signup totaled about 295,000 acres nationwide. Producers submitted re-enrollment offers for 891,000 expiring acres, reflecting the successes of participating in CRP longer term. The total number of CRP acres will continue to climb in the coming weeks once FSA accepts acres from the Grassland CRP signup, which closed May 26. Additionally, so far this year, FSA has received 761,000 offered acres for the Continuous CRP signup, for which FSA accepts applications year-round.

    The number of accepted acres that are enrolled in General CRP will be confirmed later this year. Participating producers and landowners should also remember that submitting and accepting a CRP offer is the first step, and producers still need to develop a conservation plan before contracts become effective on October 1, 2023. Each year, during the window between offer acceptance and land enrollment, some producers ultimately decide not to enroll some accepted acres, without penalty.

    General CRP Signup

    The General CRP Signup 60 ran from February 27 through April 7, 2023.

    Through CRP, producers and landowners establish long-term, resource-conserving plant species, such as approved grasses or trees, to control soil erosion, improve soil health and water quality, and enhance wildlife habitat on agricultural land. In addition to the other well-documented benefits, lands enrolled in CRP are playing a key role in climate change mitigation efforts across the country.

    In 2021, FSA introduced improvements to the program, which included a new Climate-Smart Practice Incentive to increase carbon sequestration and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This incentive provides an annual 3, 5, or 10 percent incentive payment based on the predominant vegetation type for the practices enrolled – from grasses to trees to wetland restoration.

    Other CRP Signups

    Grassland CRP is a working lands program that helps producers and landowners protect grassland from conversion while enabling haying and grazing activities to continue. Lands enrolled support haying and grazing operations and promotes plant and animal biodiversity. Lands are also protected from being converted to uses other than grassland. This year’s signup for Grassland CRP ran from April 17 through May 26.

    Continuous CRP, in which producers and landowners can enroll throughout the year. Offers are automatically accepted provided the producer and land meet the eligibility requirements and the enrollment levels do not exceed the statutory cap. Continuous CRP includes the State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE) Initiative, the Farmable Wetlands Program (FWP), and the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP). In CREP, which is available in certain geographies, partnerships with States, Tribes, and other entities are leveraged for participants to receive a variety of added incentives and flexibilities. Also available is the Clean Lakes Estuaries and Rivers (CLEAR) initiative. CLEAR30, a signup opportunity under that initiative available nationwide, gives producers and landowners across the country the opportunity to enroll in 30-year CRP contracts for water quality practices.

    More Information

    To learn more about FSA programs, producers can contact their local USDA Service Center. Producers can also prepare maps for acreage reporting as well as manage farm loans and view other farm records data and customer information by logging into their farmers.gov account. If you don’t have an account, sign up today.

  • AFT Releases White Papers Detailing Farm Bill Recommendations

    American Farmland Trust released two new white papers that further illustrate its priorities to increase adoption of conservation practices in the next Farm Bill. These priorities include the creation of a federal match to help states and Tribes build up their soil health programs, and increased support for farmer-to-farmer education to accelerate adoption of conservation practices.

    “AFT’s is working this Farm Bill to keep land in farming, keep farmers on the land, and to help farmers adopt sound farming practices,” said Tim Fink, AFT’s Policy Director. “Increasing adoption of soil health practices is a win-win for farmers and for the communities they serve. These practices can increase profitability and benefit water quality while also helping build resilience to and combat climate change. The white papers released today outline innovative and cost-effective ways for Congress to support farmers and ranchers build soil health in their fields.”

    Creating a Federal Match for State and Tribal Soil Health Programs in the Next Farm Bill urges Congress to build up locally-led programs that supplement and fill gaps in NRCS conservation support. For example, many state programs fund purchases of soil health equipment—a key barrier to adoption that farmers report facing and which NRCS does not fund. Since the last Farm Bill, states have been leading the way, creating new policies and programs that help producers improve their soil health. These locally-led programs are tailored to meet the needs of producers, are popular and often oversubscribed, and they invest in innovations that can inform NRCS program implementation and future Farm Bills.

    “AFT sees that state programs are an essential complement to NRCS’s work, and the Farm Bill should help to build existing programs up and jumpstart the creation of programs in states where they do not yet exist,” said Samantha Levy, AFT’s Conservation and Climate Policy Manager. “Creating this match program, which already has broad and bipartisan support, would leverage federal funding, help states and tribes develop new programs, create innovative new models for advancing conservation, and build upon grassroots leadership.”

    Improving On and Increasing Access to Conservation Programs in the Next Farm Bill focuses on how programs like the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), and the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) can continue their work supporting voluntary, locally-led conservation while ensuring equitable access for farmers. In addition to recommendations to provide sustainable conservation funding, increase technical assistance capacity, streamline program implementation, increase equitable access, and better track outcomes, this paper details an AFT priority in the Farm Bill to augment farmer-to-farmer education in conservation.

    Levy continued, “Ask any farmer where they get their information about adopting conservation practices on their farm or ranch and nine times out of ten they will say, ‘another farmer.’ In our focus on financial and technical assistance, we often overlook this critical piece. Farmers are innovators, and they trust other farmers to best answer the questions about what worked and what didn’t. Supporting more of those types of interactions among peers is key to ensuring successful long-term adoption of conservation practices, and improving farm viability and resilience in the face of a changing climate.”

    AFT also recommends Congress establish an Office of Small Farms at USDA to support lower-acreage producers, and the white paper includes other recommendations to continue increasing equitable access to USDA conservation programs.

    These white papers and recommendations were informed by 16 Farm Bill workshops AFT conducted in 2022 with farmers, service providers, and others across the U.S. These recommendations are part of a broader AFT Farm Bill policy agenda that includes critical policy recommendations to protect farmland and help current and aspiring producers run viable operations and access land. AFT also recently released its Smart Solar Farm Bill agenda to ensure a smart solar buildout that supports rural vitality as the U.S. transitions to renewable energy.

    American Farmland Trust is the only national organization that takes a holistic approach to agriculture, focusing on the land itself, the agricultural practices used on that land, and the farmers and ranchers who do the work. AFT launched the conservation agriculture movement and continues to raise public awareness through our No Farms, No Food message. Since our founding in 1980, AFT has helped permanently protect over 6.8 million acres of agricultural lands, advanced environmentally-sound farming practices on millions of additional acres and supported thousands of farm families.

  • $500 Million for Improved Regional Conservation Partnership Program to Better Support Partners, Producers

    The Biden Administration announced the availability of $500 million in funding to advance partner-driven solutions to conservation on agricultural land through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). RCPP leverages a voluntary approach to conservation that expands the reach of conservation efforts and climate-smart agriculture through public-private partnerships. Increased funding for fiscal year 2023 is made possible by the Inflation Reduction Act, and this year’s funding opportunity reflects a concerted effort to streamline and simplify the program. Program improvements will enable USDA to efficiently implement the $4.95 billion in Inflation Reduction Act funding for the program while improving the experience for partners, agricultural producers, and employees. 

    “The Regional Conservation Partnership Program leverages the collective power and resources of public-private partnerships to deliver meaningful results for agriculture and conservation,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “Thanks to the additional resources unlocked by the Inflation Reduction Act, as well as the improvements being made to the program, more farmers, ranchers, and foresters than ever before will be able to access and deploy conservation and climate-smart practices that will combat the climate crisis, enhance water and soil quality, protect vulnerable wildlife habitat, and more.”

    This announcement is part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, which is growing the American economy from the bottom up and middle-out – from rebuilding our nation’s infrastructure to driving over $435 billion in private sector manufacturing and clean energy investments in the United States, to creating good paying jobs and building a clean-energy economy that will combat climate change and make our communities more resilient. The Inflation Reduction Act represents the single largest investment in climate and clean energy solutions in American history and it includes $19.5 billion for NRCS programs over five years.

    RCPP Improvement Effort

    The improvements included in this year’s RCPP funding opportunity are part of an ongoing effort to streamline NRCS conservation programs and efficiently implement the Inflation Reduction Act. The RCPP improvement effort identified problems and central issues associated with the program and is working to develop meaningful and actionable improvements.

    Based on partner listening sessions and employee and partner surveys, NRCS identified seven key focus areas for improvement, each with a dedicated team working to address identified issues and provide recommendations:

    1. Simplifying and Reducing the Number of Agreements
    2. Reducing Lengthy RCPP Easement Transactions
    3. Improving the RCPP Portal
    4. Consistent Guidance and Training for Employees and Partners
    5. Simplifying the Technical Assistance Structure
    6. Improving the Conservation Desktop
    7. Simplifying the Partner Reimbursement Process

    For more information about RCPP and a list of frequently asked questions, visit the NRCS website.

    Earlier this month, NRCS also announced improvements to the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program to improve efficiency and effectiveness in conservation easements. In addition, NRCS recently called for input on its targeted water quality initiatives.

    Notice of Funding Opportunity

    The application period is now open for RCPP Classic and RCPP Alternative Funding Arrangements (AFA).  RCPP Classic projects are implemented using NRCS contracts and easements with producers, landowners and communities, in collaboration with project partners. Through RCPP AFA, the lead partner must work directly with agricultural producers to support the development of new conservation structures and approaches that would not otherwise be available under RCPP Classic.

    Today’s RCPP Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) showcases a number of program improvements including the increase of project funding ceilings, the simplification of financial assistance and technical assistance structures, a stronger emphasis on locally led conservation, and easement deed flexibilities.

    Up to $500 million will be available through the RCPP for fiscal year 2023, of which up to $50 million will prioritize AFAs with Indian Tribes.

    Projects selected under this NOFO may be awarded funding through either the Inflation Reduction Act or Farm Bill 2018. Applications for RCPP climate-related projects will receive priority consideration for Inflation Reduction Act funding. The 2023 RCPP priorities are climate-smart agriculture, urban agriculture and projects and, as a Justice40 covered program, projects that serve underserved farmers and ranchers.

    NRCS will accept applications now through Aug. 18, 2023 via the RCPP portal.

    Please note that to request access to the portal, you must have a level 2 verified eAuthentication account with USDA. This can be obtained by following the instructions on the USDA eAuthentication page.

    Webinar for Interested Applicants

    NRCS encourages interested applicants to participate in upcoming webinars that will provide general information about this funding announcement. The webinars will take place on May 24 and June 7, from 2-3:30 p.m. ET. Join via this links posted on the RCPP How to Applywebsite. Additional webinars may be announced as needed.