Page 8 - Conservation Stewardship Program News Today

Young Farmers in Michigan hope the new Farm Bill will include key benefits regarding land access so they can continue to pursue farming passionately. Without generational access to land and institutional knowledge of farming, young farmers face difficulties in entering the industry and building infrastructure for growing their business. Payge Solidago, Michigan organizer with the National Young Farmers Coalition, said nearly 40% of young farmers lease their land and lack access to secure land. ...

North Dakotas farming landscape is seeing policy shifts dealing with corporate ownership of agricultural interests. Now, theres fresh debate at the federal level. Earlier this year, the Legislature loosened restrictions under the states longstanding anti-corporate-farming law. ...

Kansas Rural Center policy analyst Paul Johnson said the federal farm bill plowed about two-thirds of crop subsidies into feed grains for livestock despite the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s recommendation that half a person’s diet feature fruits and vegetables.

If you live in a flood prone community, soil health from nearby farmland may have something to do with it. Ag voices in Wisconsin say government-funded conservation programs are effective in mitigating risks and disaster expenses. Congress will soon renew debate over long-term Farm Bill funding, including incentives for producers to adopt practices like no-till farming, which allow the soil to hold more water after heavy rain. ...

Women, LGBTQ, and minority farmers in Ohio face compounding stressors, according to a study from Ohio State University. Researchers surveyed and interviewed a group of nontraditional, mostly first-generation organic farmers. Results showed 58% of survey respondents reported mild to severe symptoms of anxiety or depression. ...

Applications are now being accepted for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program and the Conservation Stewardship Program. Administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, these programs are designed to help producers and landowners improve conservation efforts on land that they own or manage, according to a news release. EQIP and CSP both help to offset costs […]

Mexico has issued a ban on importing genetically modified corn from the U.S., potentially opening a new market for American farmers. Mexico is the second-largest importer of U.S. grown corn. ...

Kansas Rural Center policy analyst Paul Johnson said the federal farm bill plowed about two-thirds of crop subsidies into feed grains for livestock.

When the U.S. Department of Agriculture denied Albert Johnson Sr.s application for a farm loan in the mid-1980s, he went to a private lender who made him list as collateral

Today is the deadline for small farmers seeking financial assistance to apply for grants from a farm advocacy organization designed to help them get their start. Practical Farmers of Iowas Savings Incentive Program also teaches them important financial knowledge. The SIP is a two-year program offering targeted learning and networking opportunities with guidance from experienced farmer-mentors. ...