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Massachusetts NRCS Newsroom
Media Contact: Diane Baedeker Petit, Public Affairs
Officer, 413-253-4371, diane.petit@ma.usda.gov.
Latest Headlines:
AMHERST,
MA (January 31, 2013) – The Massachusetts state office of the United States
Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service is now
accepting applications from state and local units of government, federally
recognized Tribes, and non-governmental organizations for the Farm and Ranch
Lands Protection Program (FRPP). Applications must be received at the NRCS
Massachusetts State Office by 4:30 pm on Friday, April 19, 2013.
 AMHERST,
Mass. (Dec. 19, 2012) – The United States Department of Agriculture’s Natural
Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has announced the next application cut-off
date for three federal conservation programs. Massachusetts farmers and forest
land owners can apply for these programs anytime throughout the year; but NRCS
will review and rank all complete applications for the current round of funding
on February 15, 2013.
 AMHERST,
Mass. (Oct. 10, 2012) – The United States Department of Agriculture’s Natural
Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has announced that applications for four
federal conservation programs will be ranked for possible funding on December
21, 2012. Massachusetts farmers and forest land owners can apply for these
programs anytime throughout the year; but NRCS will review and rank all complete
applications for the current round of funding on that date.
 AMHERST,
Mass. (Sept. 28, 2012) -- Christine Clarke, Massachusetts State Conservationist
for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service
(NRCS) has announced nearly $217,000 in Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) for
three projects that will stimulate the development and adoption of innovative
conservation approaches and technologies to address water quality and quantity,
air quality, energy conservation, and other natural resource issues.
 AMHERST,
Mass. (June 8, 2012) – Northborough residents and other interested parties are
invited to attend a public meeting to discuss and submit comments on proposed
plans to upgrade the Hop Brook Dam in Northborough. The meeting will be held on
Thursday June 28th from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm in the Selectmen's meeting room at
the Northborough Town Hall, 63 Main Street, Northborough, Mass.
 AMHERST,
Mass., May 10, 2012 — State Conservationist Christine Clarke announced the
launch of a new National Water Quality
Initiative committed to improving the Palmer River, an impaired waterway in
southeastern Massachusetts, one of 157 targeted watersheds nationwide. USDA’s
Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will manage the initiative by
making funds available to farmers and forest landowners in the selected
watersheds. Farmers located in the Palmer River watershed in southeastern
Mass. should apply by June 15.
AMHERST, Mass. (April 10, 2012) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s
Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in partnership with the Department
of the Interior’s Fish and Wildlife Service have announced funding for a new
Working Lands for Wildlife partnership, which allows farmers and forest
landowners to use innovative approaches to restore and protect habitat for
at-risk wildlife species such as the New England cottontail rabbit.
 AMHERST,
Mass. (March 9, 2012) – USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
Massachusetts State Conservationist Christine Clarke reminds local organic
farmers and those transitioning to organic production practices to contact their
local NRCS office soon to find out if they are eligible for the agency’s Organic
Initiative. March 30, 2012 is the cut-off date for applications to be
considered in the second ranking period of 2012, although applications are
always accepted on a continuous basis.
AMHERST, Mass. (March 1, 2012) - USDA has unveiled the
Know
Your Farmer, Know Your Food (KYF) Compass, an interactive web-based document
and map highlighting the department's support for local and regional food
projects and successful producer, business and community case studies. A report
on the new website mentions John Kokoski, owner of
Mapleline Farm in Hadley, Mass. for his work with the department's Natural
Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).
AMHERST, Mass. (March 1, 2012) – The Massachusetts State Office of the U.S.
Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is
seeking proposals for projects that demonstrate the use of innovative
technologies or approaches to protecting soil, water, air, plant, animal and
energy resources for possible funding through a Conservation Innovation Grant
(CIG). Some $217,000 is available for Massachusetts projects. Proposals are
due Friday, March 30, 2012 at 5:00 pm.
 AMHERST,
Mass. (January 24, 2012) — The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
has announced a funding opportunity for wetland protection, restoration and
enhancement activities on eligible lands in Massachusetts. Proposals for
projects are due by February 10, 2012. Funding comes through the agency’s
Wetlands Reserve Enhancement Program (WREP), with up to $17 million available
nationwide.
 AMHERST,
MA (January 24, 2012) – The Massachusetts state office of the United States
Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service is now
accepting applications from state and local units of government, federally
recognized Tribes, and non-governmental organizations for the Farm and Ranch
Lands Protection Program (FRPP). FRPP provides up to 50 percent matching funding
for the purchase of conservation easements on agricultural lands.
Applications are due Monday, April 2.
 AMHERST,
Mass. (January 18, 2012) – The United States Department of Agriculture’s Natural
Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has announced that the cut-off date for
the current Conservation Stewardship
Program (CSP) ranking period has been extended to January 27, 2012.
Farmers who maintain a high level of conservation on their land and agree to
adopt higher levels of stewardship are eligible for CSP payments.
NRCS Massachusetts video:
Upgrades are proposed for six flood-control dams in the Sudbury-Assabet-Concord
(SuAsCo) rivers watershed. The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and
Recreation (DCR) owns, operates and maintains the dams. Built between 1962 and
1987 by USDA and DCR, these "silent protectors" provide $1.7 million in annual
flood protection to the 36 towns in the SuAsCo watershed. Although the dams are
still sound, today's increased land development generates higher amounts of
storm runoff than the dams were designed to handle. Upgrading the dams will also
maintain wetland and wildlife habitat and outdoor recreation. One upgrade
project is already under way at the George H. Nichols Dam in Westborough. Learn
more by watching this NRCS Massachusetts video.
From the Cape Cod Water Resources Restoration Project Blog:
 Cape
Cod’s Town of Brewster recently received a water quality makeover at two
important shellfishing and recreation areas. Until recently, Paine’s Creek
Landing and Saints Landing Beach, five minutes apart on Cape Cod Bay, had an
unfortunate commonality: they discharged stormwater into the Bay. Like many
asphalt roads and parking lots near open water, the paved surfaces at Paine’s
Creek and Saint’s Landing were channeling untreated surface water – stormwater –
into an important water body because of their large impervious surface areas. So
the Cape Cod Water Resources Restoration Project installed underground systems
to catch and treat this stormwater to prevent more harmful contaminants from
entering Cape Cod Bay.
HYANNIS, Mass. (January
4, 2012) -- A stormwater treatment project that will
significantly improve the water quality of Duck Creek in Wellfleet is in
progress and, as a result, motorists may encounter construction work along
Commercial Street between Bank Street and Holbrook Avenue. The work is part
of the Cape Cod Water Resources Restoration Project, spearheaded by the USDA
Natural Resources Conservation Service in partnership with the Cape Cod
Conservation District and Barnstable County Commissioners.
Massachusetts news release
archive...
Last modified:
01/31/2013
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