Massachusetts NRCS Announces Application Dates for Fiscal Year 2024 Programs

Cut-off Dates Announced for Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) Applications

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has announced that November 3, 2023 and March 8, 2024 will be the cut-off dates for applications for the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) to be considered and ranked for 2024 funding.

CSP helps agricultural producers take the conservation activities on their farm to the next level. It provides a payment for maintaining the current conservation efforts on the land and covers part of the cost for producers implementing new conservation activities.

The program provides many benefits including increased crop yields, decreased inputs, wildlife habitat improvements, and increased resilience to weather extremes. CSP is for working lands including cropland, pastureland, nonindustrial private forest land, and agricultural land under the jurisdiction of a tribe.

While applications are accepted throughout the year, interested producers should submit applications to their local NRCS office by November 3, 2023 or March 8, 2024, to ensure their applications are considered for 2024 funding.

“CSP continues to be a very effective tool for private landowners working to achieve their conservation and management goals,” said Dan Wright, NRCS Massachusetts State Conservationist. “It is the largest conservation program in the United States with more than 70 million acres of productive agricultural and forest land enrolled.”

Higher payment rates are available for certain conservation activities, including resource conserving crop rotations and advanced grazing management. CSP provides specific support for organic and transitioning to organic production activities.

For more information and to apply, contact your local USDA-NRCS office.

Environmental Quality Incentives Program and Agricultural Management Assistance Program in Massachusetts

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is announcing January 5, 2024; March 8, 2024; and May 10, 2024 as the application ranking cut-off dates for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and the Agricultural Management Assistance Program (AMA) in Massachusetts. EQIP and AMA offer financial and technical assistance to private owners and managers of agricultural land and forestland to address natural resource concerns.

Farmland and forestland operators and owners who are interested in applying for assistance through EQIP or AMA should contact their local NRCS office for more information and to begin the conservation planning process. NRCS develops conservation plans which evaluate resource concerns, while considering the land management goals of the operation.

“If you operate a farm or manage forest land and want to improve your land, we can help,” said Dan Wright, State Conservationist for NRCS in Massachusetts. “You can discuss your vision for your land with one of our conservation planners, who will explain the conservation planning process and how to apply for financial assistance.”

You may apply for NRCS conservation programs at any time. Complete applications are ranked for funding in batches periodically throughout the year. In Massachusetts, NRCS is offering three batching periods for EQIP and AMA. Fiscal year 2024 cut-off dates are: January 5th, March 8th, and May10, 2024.

All applications determined eligible and high priority by close of business on a given ranking date will be considered in the current funding cycle. All NRCS programs are voluntary.

Ranking dates and the application process are subject to change. Contact your local field office for the latest information. For more information on available programs, the application process, and natural resource priorities, visit the Massachusetts NRCS website at www.ma.nrcs.usda.gov.

NRCS has seven field offices in Massachusetts:

• Greenfield field office – 413-772-0384, ext 3, serving Franklin County
• Hadley field office – 413-585-1000, ext 3, serving Hampden and Hampshire counties
• Holden field office – 508-829-4477, ext 3, serving Worcester County
• Pittsfield field office – 413-443-1776, ext 3, serving Berkshire County
• Westford field office – 978-692-1904, ext 3, serving Essex, Middlesex and Suffolk counties
• Wareham field office – 508-295-5151, ext 2, serving Bristol, Norfolk and Plymouth counties
• West Yarmouth field office – 508-771-6476, serving Cape Cod and the Islands

Agricultural Land Easement Application Deadline in Massachusetts

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has advertised December 29, 2023 as the ranking cut-off date for applications from state and local governments, non-governmental organizations, and Native American Tribes that would like to protect working farmland through an Agricultural Land Easement under the federal Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP).

ACEP Agricultural Land Easements protect critical natural resources and encourage private landowners to maintain land for farming through the voluntary sale of an easement, which limits future development.

NRCS provides financial assistance to eligible partners for purchasing Agricultural Land Easements. Cropland, rangeland, grassland, pastureland, and nonindustrial private forest land are eligible. State and local governments, non-governmental organizations, and Native American Tribes that have farmland or grassland protection programs are eligible to partner with NRCS to purchase conservation easements.

This fiscal year’s application ranking cut-off date is Friday, December 29, 2023. All eligible applications received by 4:00 pm on these dates will be ranked. The highest ranked applications will be selected based on the available funds provided to Massachusetts NRCS.

Applications should be submitted to Rita Thibodeau, Assistant State Conservationist for Programs at the USDA-NRCS Massachusetts State Office, 451 West Street, Amherst, MA 01002. Information on how to apply and application forms are available on the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program | Natural Resources Conservation Service (usda.gov) website.

“USDA is committed to preserving our agricultural lands for future generations. This is a perfect opportunity for local communities, state agencies, land trusts, and other eligible groups to partner with NRCS to preserve these lands and the values they provide to

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 2: Zero Hunger
• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
• SDG 13: Climate Action
• SDG 15: Life on Land

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• SDG 2.4: By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, that help maintain ecosystems, that strengthen capacity for adaptation to climate change, extreme weather, drought, flooding, and other disasters, and that progressively improve land and soil quality.
• SDG 6.4: By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity and substantially reduce the number of people suffering from water scarcity.
• SDG 7.2: By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.
• SDG 11.4: Strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage.
• SDG 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.
• SDG 15.1: By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests, wetlands, mountains, and drylands, in line with obligations under international agreements.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator 2.4.1: Proportion of agricultural area under productive and sustainable agriculture.
• Indicator 6.4.1: Change in water-use efficiency over time.
• Indicator 7.2.1: Renewable energy share in the total final energy consumption.
• Indicator 11.4.1: Total expenditure (public and private) per capita spent on the preservation, protection, and conservation of all cultural and natural heritage.
• Indicator 13.1.1: Number of deaths, missing persons, and directly affected persons attributed to disasters per 100,000 population.
• Indicator 15.1.1: Forest area as a proportion of total land area.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.

Source: morningagclips.com

Join us, as fellow seekers of change, on a transformative journey at https://sdgtalks.ai/welcome, where you can become a member and actively contribute to shaping a brighter future.