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As the Obama administration draws to a close on Friday,
January 20th, we will be saying good-bye to Florida and Virgin
Islands State Executive Director Rick Dantzler.
Mr. Dantzler is a political appointee and his tenure ends with President
Obama's. Until the Trump administration
selects a new appointee, Debby Folsom will be serving as Acting State Executive
Director.
Mr. Dantzler, thank you for your service and best wishes on your
future endeavors!
Through the Agricultural Act of 2014, USDA has
several authorities that encourage the adoption of renewable energy and energy
efficiency technologies. The Energy Generation and Efficiency Building
Block supports energy efficiency improvements in rural homes and on farm
operations, for example, through EQIP’s National On-Farm Energy Initiative.
This Building Block also provides opportunities to reduce Greenhouse Gas (GHG)
emissions from energy generation and use, for example, through the Rural Energy
for America Program. To learn more about energy generation and efficiency
opportunities from USDA click the following link: http://www.usda.gov/oce/climate_change/building_blocks/10_EnergyGenerationEfficiency.pdf
For more information about the USDA Climate Hubs
click here: http://www.climatehubs.oce.usda.gov/.
USDA will
accept over 300,000 acres in 43 states that were offered by producers during
the recent ranking period for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Grasslands
enrollment with emphasis placed on small-scale livestock operations. Through
the voluntary CRP Grasslands program, grasslands threatened by development or
conversion to row crops are maintained as livestock grazing areas, while
providing important conservation benefits. Approximately 200,000 of the
accepted acres were offered by small-scale livestock operations.
The most
recent ranking period closed on Dec. 16, 2016, and included for the first time
a CRP Grasslands practice specifically tailored for small-scale livestock
grazing operations to encourage broader participation. Under this ranking
period and for future periods, small-scale livestock operations with 100 or
fewer head of grazing cows (or the equivalent) can submit applications to
enroll up to 200 acres of grasslands per farm. Larger operations may still make
offers through the normal process. USDA met its goal of 200,000 acres under
this small-scale initiative. The new practice for small-scale livestock grazing
operations encourages greater diversity geographically and in all types of
livestock operations. Visit http://go.usa.gov/x9PFS to view the complete list
of acres accepted by state.
Participants
in CRP Grasslands establish or maintain long-term, resource-conserving grasses
and other plant species to control soil erosion, improve water quality and
develop wildlife habitat on marginally productive agricultural lands. CRP
Grasslands participants can use the land for livestock production (e.g. grazing
or producing hay), while following their conservation and grazing plans in
order to maintain the cover. A goal of CRP Grasslands is to minimize conversion
of grasslands either to row crops or to non-agricultural uses. Participants can
receive annual payments of up to 75 percent of the grazing value of the land
and up to 50 percent of the cost of cover practices like cross-fencing to
support rotational grazing or improving pasture cover to benefit pollinators or
other wildlife.
USDA selects
offers for enrollment based on six ranking factors: (1) current and future use,
(2) new farmer/rancher or underserved producer involvement, (3) maximum
grassland preservation, (4) vegetative cover, (5) environmental factors, and
(6) pollinator habitat. Offers not selected in a ranking period are rolled over
into the next ranking period.
Small
livestock operations or other farming and ranching operations interested in
participating in CRP Grasslands should contact their local FSA office. To find
your local FSA office, visit http://offices.usda.gov. To learn more about FSA’s
conservation programs, visit www.fsa.usda.gov/conservation.
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