USDA Invests $70 Million to expand conservation access and opportunities

Thursday, September 21, 2023

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is spending $70 million to work with others to help more people, especially those in underserved communities, learn about and use programs that protect nature and help with farming. This includes programs supported by the Inflation Reduction Act, as well as job opportunities.

The USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has chosen 139 projects to work on with different groups for one to three years. These projects aim to get more people involved in NRCS programs, especially those who haven't had the chance before. They want to reach out to new farmers, people with limited resources, those who have faced disadvantages, and veterans. They also want to show students that they can have careers in farming and nature-related jobs.

The projects are divided into different categories:

Promoting NRCS Program Benefits: These projects teach people about the good things NRCS programs and conservation practices can do.
Community Conservation Partnerships: These projects help people in underserved areas protect farmland, water, and wildlife.
Informing Small-Scale and Urban Producers: These projects show small farmers and city farmers how they can join conservation programs.
Supporting Climate-Smart Conservation: These projects teach people how to protect nature in a way that's good for the climate.
Developing Conservation Leadership: These projects help people become leaders in taking care of nature.

Here are some examples of the projects:

Using Drones for Conservation: Some farmers will use drones to help plan how they take care of their land. This could save them a lot of money.
Helping Urban Areas: In cities like Chicago, they'll work with farms and schools to protect nature and help people in need.
Supporting Small-Scale Agriculture: They'll give extra help to small farmers, teach communities about taking care of the land, and help young people become leaders in farming.

These projects add to the $50 million the NRCS spent on similar projects in 2022. They're trying to help people who haven't had the same chances in farming and nature work.

Photo Credit: gettyimages-jimfeng