The DRAFT Maryland Forest Action Plan is open for public review and comment through November 16, 2020.  Revisions from the 2010 and 2015 plans were made following six statewide listening sessions in May 2019, reference to the State Wildlife Action Plan, and additional presentations to stakeholder groups. Comments can be submitted through the online portal on the website:…

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…

The Chesapeake Bay Trust, with support from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, seeks services for technical assistance to support key Chesapeake Bay Program Goals and Outcomes through thirteen (13) separate scopes of work: Proposal 1: Quantification of the Value of Green Infrastructure Hazard Mitigation Related to Inland and Coastal Flooding Proposal 2: Behavior Change Training…

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…

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…

white oak silvopasture with a close up of one dark cow.

Powerpoint slide illustrating Windbreaks.

A powerpoint slide, the second one, showing all 5 AF practices

PowerPoint slide of all 5 AF practices

sloping white oak silvopasture with abundant forage and livestock grazing.