Maryland NRCS News Releases (2009)

Last Modified: 10/26/2009

Maryland Media Liaison:

Carol Hollingsworth, 443-482-2902

USDA 2008 Farm Bill

Information

NRCS Announces State Technical Committee Meeting for November 4, 2009

Jon Hall, Maryland State Conservationist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), announced that NRCS will hold a meeting of the Maryland State Technical Committee on Wednesday, November 4, 2009, from 9:00 am - Noon. The meeting will be held at the Maryland Association of Realtors Meeting Room, 200 Harry S. Truman Parkway, in Annapolis, Maryland.

News Release (October 21, 2009)

Take Charge of Your Legacy - A Free Workshop for Maryland Woodland Owners

Owning woodlands can be a rewarding experience. However, the woodlands in our region face many threats that can make this experience challenging. Join Forestry for the Bay in Dorchester County, on October 24th, for a free workshop to discover various programs, management techniques & opportunities designed to help you care for and improve the vitality of your woods.

Registration Information

USDA Announces National Application Period for new Conservation Stewardship Program

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will begin continuous sign-up for the new Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) on Monday, August 10 with the first application period cutoff scheduled for September 30, 2009. CSP is a voluntary program that encourages agricultural and forestry producers to maintain existing conservation activities and adopt additional ones on their operations.

News Release (August 6, 2009)

NRCS Announces State Technical Committee Meeting for July 22, 2009

Jon Hall, Maryland State Conservationist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), announced that NRCS will hold a meeting of the Maryland State Technical Committee on Wednesday, July 22, 2009, from 9:00 am - Noon. The meeting will be held at the NRCS State Office in the downstairs conference room (suite 205), 339 Busch’s Frontage Road, Annapolis, Maryland 21409.

News Release (July 7, 2009)

State Technical Committee

NRCS Maryland Seeking Proposals for Conservation Innovation Grants

The Natural Resources Conservation Service in Maryland is seeking proposals for Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) for fiscal year 2009. NRCS Maryland anticipates that $340,000 will be available to support this program. The CIG program is designed to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies. Applications are due by 4pm on July 24, 2009.

News Release (June 23, 2009)

NRCS Holds National Listening Session on Conservation Programs At Regional Conservation Meeting on July 27

The USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is holding one of three National Listening Sessions in Maryland on July 27, 2009. The public meeting offers stakeholders the opportunity to provide input on important natural resources concerns and conservation programs managed by USDA to address natural resource concerns over the next decade.

News Release (June 16, 2009)

Maryland Grazer’s Network Plans Fields Days for Dairy and Beef Operations in June

If these topics are of interest to you, then plan on attending the free field days sponsored by the Maryland Grazer’s Network. The field days were designed for farmers, conservation partnership employees and anyone interested in conservation and grazing practices for their dairy and beef operation. Learn about financial assistance through the USDA Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) to assist you in partnering with a mentor through the Maryland Grazer’s Network or becoming a mentor to help other farmers.

Information

NRCS Extends Sign-Up for New Organic Conservation Initiative to June 26

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Maryland has extended the application period for the new Organic Initiative under the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) to June 26, 2009. NRCS Maryland received $376,000 in financial assistance funds under the initiative.

News Release (May 27, 2009)

Dedication of National Plant Materials Center in Honor of Norman A. Berg

 Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today dedicated the USDA National Plant Materials Center in honor of pioneering conservationist Norman A. Berg who dedicated more than 70 years to the stewardship of working farm and ranch land.

USDA News Release (May 15, 2009)
Photographs

NRCS Announces Sign-Up for New Organic Conservation Initiative From May 11 to May 29

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Maryland announced that the application period for the new Organic Initiative under the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) runs from May 11 through May 29, 2009. NRCS Maryland received $376,000 in financial assistance funds under the initiative.

News Release (May 7, 2009)

Funds Available for Agricultural Land Preservation from NRCS

“Land preservation organizations and State and Local Governments have until June 29, 2009 to apply for over $3.1 million in conservation funds under the Farm and Ranchland Protection Program (FRPP)”, said Mark Rose, Maryland Assistant State Conservationist for Programs for the US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

News Release (April 20, 2009)

USDA Seeks Public Comments and Project Proposals for Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative

USDA is seeking public comments and project proposals for the Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative. Public comments are due April 8. Proposals for grants are due April 23.

News Release (March 31, 2009)

Free Workshop on Forestry Conservation Opportunities in Farm Bill

Owning woodlands can be a rewarding experience. However, the woodlands in our region face many threats that can make this experience challenging. Join us for a free workshop to discover various programs, management techniques & opportunities designed to help you care for and improve the vitality of your woods. NRCS's Southern Maryland RC&D is one of the sponsors for the workshop on Saturday, May 9, 2009 from 9 am - 3pm at the College of Southern Maryland in LaPlata.

Information

NRCS Can Restore and Protect Flood-Prone Lands in Maryland

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Maryland announced today that conservation funding is available to eligible landowners nationwide through the floodplain easement component of its Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Program. The funds will be used nationwide to restore an estimated 60,000 acres of frequently flooded land to its natural state and create jobs.

Eligible landowners can sign up for these easements from March 9 – 27, 2009 at their local NRCS Office located in USDA Service Centers in each Maryland County. Applicants can find a list of USDA Service Centers at www.md.nrcs.usda.gov, click on Contact Us, Find A Service Center.

News Release (March 9, 2009)

NRCS Extends AWEP Application Deadline to April 1

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Maryland announced that the application period for the Agricultural Water Enhancement Program (AWEP) has been extended to April 1, 2009. NRCS is extending the application period to add new ranking considerations to address energy conservation, renewable energy production, mitigating climate change and facilitating climate change adaptation, and carbon sequestration.

News Release (March 3, 2009)

NRCS Extends CIG Application Deadline to March 20

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Maryland announced the application period for Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) has been extended to March 20, 2009.

News Release (February 27, 2009)

2009 Southern Maryland Small Farmers Seminar

The 2009 Southern Maryland Small Farmers Seminar, sponsored by the Small Farm Institute, University of Maryland; Maryland Socially Disadvantaged Farms and Ranchers Project, University of Maryland Eastern Shore; USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service; USDA-Farm Service Agency, will be held Saturday, March 21, 2009.  The topic will be "Farming Challenges and Opportunities in the 21st Century".  Sessions include: Family Finances, Value Added Opportunities (Partnerships and Grants), NRCS Programs, Young and Beginning Farmers Grants and Loans, FSA Farm Cosnervation Program and Alternative Marketing Update.  Please see brochure for registration information and directions.

Brochure

$29 Million in NRCS Conservation Funds Are Now Available for Maryland’s Farmers

NRCS Maryland received approximately $29 million in financial assistance funds through the 2008 Farm Bill to help Maryland’s farmers and non-industrial private forest lands owners install conservation practices on their land. Although the final program rules for the conservation programs in the 2008 Farm Bill are still being developed at NRCS national headquarters, now is the time for farmers to come into their local USDA Service Center to seek technical and financial assistance. Maryland’s farmers should submit applications now for participation in conservation programs this year.

News Release (February 24, 2009)

Applications Being Accepted for New Farm Bill Conservation Initiative That Benefits Farmers and the Chesapeake Bay

Annapolis, MD, February 10, 2009 – The Chesapeake Bay Watershed Initiative (CBWI), created in the new 2008 Farm Bill, will provide additional conservation financial assistance to agricultural producers located within the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The CBWI will be used to assist Maryland's agricultural producers to implement conservation practices that reduce the potential of excess nutrients and sediments entering the Chesapeake Bay.

News Release (February 10, 2009)

NRCS Announces Availability of $20 Million In Conservation Innovation Grants

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Maryland announced the availability of program funding for Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) for fiscal year 2009. NRCS administers CIGs and this year up to $20 million is available through the National CIG competition.

CIG applicants may apply online by going to www.grants.gov. A copy of the application must be sent to NRCS National Headquarters in Washington, DC by close of business March 2, 2009. CIG applicants must also include a cover letter showing that the application was sent to the appropriate State Conservationist for review.

News Release (February 10, 2009)

Maryland NRCS Announces Proposals Are Due February 25 for new Agricultural Water Enhancement Program

“Up to $58.4 million in financial assistance is available nationwide to agricultural producers and entities through the Agricultural Water Enhancement Program (AWEP), a new conservation program established in the 2008 Farm Bill to promote ground and surface water conservation and water quality improvement,” said Jon Hall, Maryland State Conservation for the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

USDA is seeking project proposals from potential partners through this program. The AWEP Partner Proposal must be postmarked and submitted to the NRCS Maryland State Conservationist by February 25, 2009 and a duplicate application must be submitted to the NRCS Chief in Washington, DC by March 2, 2009.

News Release (February 9, 2009)

Pasture Based Meat Production Workshop

Saturday, March 14, 2009, Maryland Cooperative Extension is hosting a pasture based meat production workshop at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. The workshop will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Topics covered during the day will include pasture establishment and maintenance, rotational grazing, fencing and shelter; breed and genetic selection for beef, poultry and turkeys; and supplemental feeding for cows, goats, sheep, chickens or turkeys. Practical information will come from local farmers finishing animals on grass.

Information

NRCS Announces State Technical Committee Meeting Schedule for 2009

Jon Hall, Maryland State Conservationist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), announced that NRCS will hold a meeting of the Maryland State Technical Committee on Wednesday, January 28, 2009, from 9:00 am - Noon. The meeting will be held at the NRCS State Office in the downstairs conference room (suite 205), 339 Busch’s Frontage Road, Annapolis, Maryland 21409.

News Release

State Technical Committee

2008 Conservation Activities Report

Maryland farmers received more than $18 million in financial assistance for conservation programs managed by NRCS Maryland.

NRCS and Conservation Partnership employees responded to more than 22,000 requests for brief conservation technical assistance.

Report

Additional Information

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