USDA Seeks Comments on Farm Bill Programs You can help shape 2008 Farm Bill conservation programs. USDA wants to hear your comments on NRCS' Environmental Quality Incentives Program, Wetlands Reserve Program, and Healthy Forests Reserve Program. More programs will be added soon for your comments. How can you be heard? Click on the program's name to find out.
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USDA Announces New Conservation Program and Initiative, Availability of Funding Two new entries join USDA's array of conservation programs. The Agricultural Water Enhancement Program offers $58.4 million in financial assistance for promoting ground and surface water conservation and water quality improvement. The Chesapeake Bay Watershed Initiative, offering $23 million in 2009, strengthens coordination and cooperation between NRCS and EPA to help agricultural producers improve the environment in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. Both are part of NRCS' Environmental Quality Incentives Program.

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USDA's Interim Final Rule Amends Composition, Responsibilities of State Technical Committees NRCS Chief Arlen Lancaster announced the release of the interim final rule for State Technical Committees, which amended requirements regarding the composition and responsibilities of these advisory committees nationwide. The 2008 Farm Bill expands agricultural and forestry involvement in the committees, expands the committees’ authority to review local working groups’ efforts to address state program priorities, and requires the Secretary of Agriculture to standardize committee operations nationwide. Comments from the public on the interim final rule are due by Jan. 26, 2009.

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Conservation... Our Purpose. Our Passion The purpose and passion for conservation is shared among many. It is shared between NRCS employees and partners who help people help the land. And it is shared by the landowners with whom we work. Our passion is manifested through the benefits derived from stewardship of private lands—benefits we all enjoy, such as cleaner water and air, improved soils and abundant wildlife habitat. Learn about our stories, the stories of conservation made possible through a shared purpose, a shared passion and a shared commitment to conservation.

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	Meet the Featured Customers! Eight featured customers, chosen to represent diversity of geography, culture, conservation practices and products, represent a cross-section of our landowner-partners nationwide as part of our Conservation... Our Purpose. Our Passion. campaign.
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Updated 01/16/2009