Posted on 08/23/2024 7:15:52 AM PDT by Twotone
WASHINGTON, Aug. 15, 2024 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is asking for public input on how best to implement the SUSTAINS Act, which authorizes USDA to accept private contributions to channel through several existing USDA conservation programs. The public should submit comments to the Request for Information
via the Federal Register by September 16, 2024.
“Agriculture is at the forefront of the nation’s effort to conserve our natural resources, and we want to hear from people on the ground how to implement this legislation to maximize its benefits, promote equity and assist all producers,” said USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Chief Terry Cosby.
The SUSTAINS Act, signed into law as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023, provides USDA with the authority to accept contributions of private funds that can be channeled through its existing conservation programs and provides additional guidelines for those contributions. Specifically, the SUSTAINS Act provides an opportunity for the private sector to partner with USDA to engage farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners in supporting conservation initiatives, including to expand implementation of conservation practices to sequester carbon, improve wildlife habitat, protect sources of drinking water and address other natural resource priorities.
NRCS is asking for public input and recommendations to determine how the agency can utilize private funds to target specific natural resource concerns associated with agricultural production. NRCS is interested in supporting program implementation and improving program delivery, including by effectively leveraging additional funds to increase outreach and expand access to financial and technical assistance for underserved producers. NRCS will use the input to determine the next steps to implement this legislation, which could include a proposed rule.
Public comments should be submitted through this Federal Register notice
by September 16, 2024.
Anyone with questions can contact NRCS by sending an email to: NRCS.SUSTAINS.Input@usda.gov. Please specify the Docket ID: NRCS-2024-0014 in the subject line. More Information
To learn more about NRCS programs, producers can contact their local USDA Service Center. Producers can also apply for NRCS programs, manage conservation plans and contracts, and view and print conservation maps by logging into their farmers.gov account. Producers without an account can sign up today.
For more than 90 years, NRCS has helped farmers, ranchers and forestland owners make investments in their operations and local communities to improve the quality of our air, water, soil, and wildlife habitat. NRCS uses the latest science and technology to help keep working lands working, boost agricultural economies, and increase the competitiveness of American agriculture. NRCS provides one-on-one, personalized advice and financial assistance and works with producers to help them reach their goals through voluntary, incentive-based conservation programs. Now, with additional funding from the Inflation Reduction Act, NRCS is working to get even more conservation practices on the ground while ensuring access to programs for all producers. For more information, visit www.nrcs.usda.gov.
USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. In the Biden-Harris administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit usda.gov.
LEAVE the FARMERS ALONE.
A DC PERSON ISN’T ANY HELP
THEY HAVE TAKEN BETTER CARE OF THE LAND THAN ANYONE ELSE FOR YEARS & YEARS.
Maybe USDA is another agency which should be shuttered.
which authorizes USDA to accept private contributions
Trump can cut the budget, but it won’t reduce govt size and control.
We have no representation.
We already have a problem with people like Bill Gates buying up & sequestering farm land. There’s no reason for this agency to be in on doing what private entities can do.
And they certainly shouldn’t be doing anything like this.
Back in the Reagan era there was a story about the USDA.
One day a USDA employee was at his desk crying uncontrollably. When his coworkers finally calmed him down and asked him what the problem was, he answered, “My farmer died, what’ll I do now?”
NRCS is asking for public input and recommendations to determine how the agency can utilize private funds to target specific natural resource concerns associated with agricultural production.
1) in some ways this can be viewed as privatization of government. But you end up with the power of govt with the agenda of large personal interests.
2) Money/power is the heart of this
3) We already have many ways of addressing the above, we don’t need more. Just like we don’t need more laws, we have enough.
What a great idea!
If a billionaire wants to do something shady on his own, he can be personally sued.
But if he bribes the government to do something shady, well, sue the government.
“Go ahead and cut our budget! We’ll just take money from criminal organizations and people and keep forcing you to do what we want at the point of a lawman’s gun!”
usda has been infiltrated since the early 1990’s at least. probably from the beginning.
I doubt “SCRAP IT ALL” Will win out.
Comment all you want to. They are going to do what they want to do anyway. They always do.
They are going to do it anyway. All they want is suggestions for how. They will pay attention to very few suggestions.
The local NRCS agent, Cliff, was to show up here to look at pastures and erosion for an improvement program. He finally called two weeks ago mostly just beating his gums. I've got no use for them, too many strings and too little gain. They sure give away a lot of drought and other relief money away to people with very little need for it though. I've never gotten any of that either because I don't apply for it for one thing.
The USDA origin of destruction was begun in the Clinton Administration when they appointed lawyers instead of people associated with agriculture to its leadership.
mark
Is this where they get rid of cows?
The SUSTAIN ACT was passed into law by a Republican House of Representatives. It didn’t appear magically in the Federal Registry.
I think it was passed by people who didn’t bother to read the bill. Which is the whole point of omnibus bills.
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