Farm and Ranch Land Protection Program deadline
Farm and Ranch February 21, 2011 The application cut-off date for the USDA’s Farm and Ranch Land Protection Program is March 4th. The Natural Resources Conservation Service is seeking proposals from local, state, federally recognized tribal governments and non-governmental organizations interested in working together to acquire conservation easements on farms and ranches. The Farm and Ranch Land Protection Program offers a way to keep prime farmland in agricultural use and at the same time, keep farming and ranching communities thriving by relieving development pressure. NRCS Assistant State Conservationist for Washington, Dave Brown, says individual interested in applying for 2011 funding should contact their local USDA-NRCS service center before the March 4th application cut-off date. The USDA’s Forest Service has unveiled a proposed Forest Planning rule which would establish a new national framework to develop land management plans for the nation’s national forests. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says the rule will provide a science based framework for planning. Vilsack; “This proposed planning rule is going to provide a framework for land management planning to restore the health and resilience of the ecosystems and watersheds, to protect wildlife, and respond to changing climate as well as connecting people more closely to our forested lands.” A public comment period is open on the rule until May 16th. I’m Bob Hoff and that’s Washington Ag Today on Northwest Aginfo Net. ? ? ?
