Soil Conservation

In 1936, President Franklin Roosevelt talked about his visit to the nation's midsection where drought and dust prevailed. He proposed a national soil conservation program which continues today. One of the newer parts of that effort is the USDA's Conservation Innovation Grants program. Part of the idea for that is simply….”to demonstrate conservation and also link up some very practical one farm experience that will produce with other producers.” Kevin Norton is acting chief of the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service, which has just announced Round two of its grant programs, 25 million dollars worth for on farm innovative demonstration projects. “14 in total, six of which are in the Soil Health category.” But Norton says these projects don't just involve one farm or one farmer. The grant money goes to universities and nonprofit groups and such. “Those are the kind of funds that are recipients of these grants. They're going out and putting these demonstrations across multiple farms so that they can reflect the different needs within, say, a watershed”… or even a county. and as President Roosevelt said wisely in 1936.