Conservation priorities subject of LWG meeting

    The Upper Republican Natural Resources District’s Local Working Group met March 8 in Imperial to prioritize U.S. Department of Agriculture conservation programs.
    The USDA tailors its natural resource programs to meet the needs identified locally.
    Andrew Keep, District Conservationist for the Natural Resources Conservation Service, whose agency guides the LWG, led the power point presentation at the NRD office.
    The LWG’s purpose and responsibilities include to ensure a conservation needs assessment is developed using community stakeholder input, identify program funding needs, identify priority resource concerns and any high-priority areas needing assistance.
    Of the many ag-related subjects discussed were subtopics from the NRCS Conservation Programs funded by the Inflation Reduction Act, signed into law last August by President Biden.
    The IRA provides the USDA’s conservation services with $19.5 billion in additional funds over five years for its existing programs, including the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, Conservation Stewardship Program and the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program, Keep said.
    The IRA directs the NRCS to use these additional funds specifically for climate change mitigation, activities that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve carbon storage from activities concerning Cover Crops, Reduced Till and No-Till, Nutrient Management, Prescribed Grazing, Tree/Shrub Establishment and Wetland Restoration.  
    Through this funding, the NRCS is seeking to both benefit the climate, by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and the producer by improving financial and technical assistance on their farm, ranch, urban operation or forest land.
    The NRCS accepts producer applications for its conservation programs year-round.  
    For EQIP or CSP, applicants need to apply by the state’s ranking dates to be considered for funding in the current cycle. Funding is provided through a competitive process:
    The Agriculture Land Easements and Wetland Reserve Easements applications for the current IRA funding cycle must be submitted by March 17 for the first funding round.
    Among the LWG meeting attendees last week were Jennifer Friehe, Chase County Executive Director, Farm Services Agency; Daniel Jenkins, Autonomous Pivot, Irrigation Saving Technology; Mark Fricke, Nebraska Forest Service; Isaac Young, Nebraska Game and Parks; and Jose Tarin, Nutrien Ag Solutions.
    Membership in the LWG includes federal, state, county and local government representatives.