Texas Conservation and Sustainability Initiative offers $42 million to producers for crop, livestock and forestry conservation practices
The Texas Conservation and Sustainability Initiative, a Texas A&M AgriLife-led program, will host a free, informational webinar on Jan. 29 to help Texas farmers, ranchers and forest landowners learn about available conservation incentives, eligible practices for funding and market opportunities.
The program is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service, NRCS. It is led by Texas A&M AgriLife Research scientists Julie Howe, Ph.D., soil chemistry and fertility professor, and Nithya Rajan, Ph.D., agronomy and agroecology professor, both in the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences in the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
Jason Vogel, AgriLife Research project manager, Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, said the program offers financial incentives, up to $100,000, for farmers, ranchers and small forest owners statewide who volunteer to adopt select conservation practices in the areas of pasture and livestock grazing, row crops, forestry, confined animal operations and edge of field.
Project highlights on webinar agenda
The informational webinar will be from 3-4 p.m. and led by Howe. No preregistration is needed, just join the webinar to listen in.
The discussion will provide producers with information on:
- Expanded incentive funding, with $42 million available for producers.
- Conservation practices eligible for support.
- Funding opportunities for larger producers.
Eligible practices vary by operation and may include cover cropping, no-till planting, irrigation and nutrient management, forestry planting, windbreaks and other edge-of-field planting for less productive lands. Forestry practices include nutrient management, tree and shrub establishment, and forest stand improvement. For livestock management, eligible practices may include prescribed grazing, feed amendments and supplements, and pasture and rangeland reestablishment.
To participate, producers must apply and go through the selection process, Vogel said. Selected producers will meet with an implementation planner/ambassador, complete a contract and participate in an environmental assessment evaluation.
““We are focused on helping commodity producers improve the sustainability of their operations,” Howe said. “We have $42 million to help producers adopt these science-based practices developed by NRCS, which are aimed at improving soil health and are more resilient to weather extremes.”
Texas Conservation and Sustainability Initiative accepts applications
Producers can apply for financial incentives, up to $100,000, to adopt conservation practices in pasture and livestock grazing, row crops, forestry and confined animal operations.
