Author: Sally Claggett
Buffers in the Farm Bill: How CLEAR30 Can Help the Bay
Here’s a recording of the July 22 webinar on the new Farm Bill Program called CLEAR-30 (https://zoom.us/rec/share/7PUlJIig5F1JRoXm0WqHUal4IoDUeaa81ikZ-qENxE7l4O1CrekbbFm24-RfvCQB)
Chesapeake region is a Pilot for CLEAR-30
Great news for forest buffers and other water quality practices: The Farm Service Agency has just announced that the Chesapeake is a pilot for CLEAR-30, a new program under the 2018 Farm Bill. Clean Lakes, Estuaries and Rivers (CLEAR) is a practice devoted to riparian buffers, wildlife habitat buffers or wetland buffers that will remain…
CREP Now Open for Buffer Enrollment
USDA’s Farm Service Agency began accepting applications June 3, 2019, for the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) and certain practices under the continuous Conservation Reserve Program. All Chesapeake states have CREP programs in place. It is the primary program for landowners to restore riparian forest buffers. Prior to reopening, the Program had been closed since…
Great News from NY on Buffer Incentives
New York State is increasing the incentive rate offered to producers for enrolling land as a Riparian Forest Buffer (CP-22) through the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program within the Upper Susquehanna Watershed. The new incentive rate, per acre, will be 20 X the Soil Rental Rate. This incentive will be paid to producers effective immediately as…
Conservation Reserve Program Closed: On Hold Until New Farm Bill
Many of you are already aware that the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP and CREP) was only authorized through Fiscal Year 2018. As of September 28, 2018, it has been closed across the country and not likely to re-open until there is a new Farm Bill. Here is the Farm Service Agency notice: https://www.fsa.usda.gov/Internet/FSA_Notice/crp_860.pdf This unfortunate development…
Bobby’s Buffer Blog
If you haven’t seen this yet, check out this week’s blog by Bobby Whitescarver– it is in honor of his buffer which just turned 15 years old. As Bobby says: I have some really good news. The riparian buffers on our farm are now fifteen years old. The CRP contracts expire next month. It is…
Bay Journal article on Riparian Forest Buffers
The April Bay Journal has a feature article on riparian forest buffers in the Chesapeake Bay. The bottom line is not a surprise to many: progress on this Bay goal is lacking. Read more: https://www.bayjournal.com/article/states_lagging_badly_in_planting_streamside_trees
New Riparian Assessment Tool for New York
For Immediate Release: 03/19/2018 Contact: Erica Ringewald | (518) 402-8000 Press Office | PressOffice@dec.ny.gov DEC and New York Natural Heritage Program Announce First-Ever Statewide Riparian Opportunity Assessment Tools New Online Tools Will Help Guide Local, Regional Stream Buffer Restoration and Protection Efforts New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner…
Several Forester Positions in MD
MD DNR Forest Service is looking to fill a Riparian Forester position in Harford County and several Natural Resource technician/seasonal positions across the state. For more information: Seasonal Natural Resources Technician IIIannouncement2018 HarfordBufferFORESTERannouncement2018
News on 2017 Riparian Forest Buffer Sign-ups
New data from the Farm Service Agency shows that nearly 700 acres of new riparian forest buffer were contracted in the Chesapeake watershed in 2017. That’s good news. But that same year, 3,678 riparian forest buffer acres were not re-enrolled. So, are we losing ground when it comes to these important investments? It is too…