Please note this opportunity for you to influence priorities for local
conservation funding. We hope that many on these lists can
participate as outlined below.
Susan Smalley
***
USDA Seeks Local Input on Conservation Priorities
EAST LANSING, Dec. 1, 2009 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture is
seeking local input from residents, landowners and organizations that
will help determine how USDA conservation program funds are utilized in
Michigan. Volunteers are sought to serve on local workgroups that will
help identify and prioritize natural resources concerns. Input from the
locally-led workgroups will be used in the development of ranking
questions for USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service financial
assistance programs. These programs include the Environmental Quality
Incentives Program (EQIP) and the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program
(WHIP). The ranking questions determine which applications
submitted by agricultural producers and landowners will be selected for
funding.
In fiscal year 2010, twenty five percent of the ranking scores for EQIP
and WHIP applications will consist of ranking questions developed from
resource issues identified by locally led workgroups. An essential
element of locally-led conservation is input from a broad range of
agencies, organizations, businesses, and individuals in the local area
that have an interest in natural resource management and are familiar
with local resource needs and conditions. These representatives should
reflect the diversity of the residents, landowners, and land operators in
the local area.
Locally-led workgroups are being asked to develop lists of up to ten
resource priorities for land uses such as crop land, forest land, pasture
land, organic agriculture and wildlife habitat. The local resource
priorities can be resource concerns such as high levels of nutrients in
surface water, resource issues such as promoting hardwood generation, or
priority practices such as encouraging no-till. More information
will be provided at the local workgroup meetings. The most common
resource issues will be turned into ranking questions for EQIP and WHIP
applications. Additionally, the priority resource issues identified may
be used to develop ranking questions for other programs and initiatives
requiring local input throughout the year.
The first meetings will be held in December and the local workgroups can
expect another meeting to update the resource issue list within the next
year. The best way to find meeting times and locations or indicate your
interest for future meetings is to contact your local NRCS field
office. The field office directory can be found online at:
http://www.mi.nrcs.usda.gov/contact/.
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