USDA Announces Additional $56.8 Million for Conservation Programs in 41 States

WASHINGTON — USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service Chief Bruce Knight recently announced that $56.8 million in funding for conservation programs has been provided to 41 states for their high levels of participation and performance in implementation of four conservation programs in fiscal year 2005.

Arkansas is receiving a $1,845,155 performance bonus for Environmental Quality Incentives Program and $518,766 for Wetlands Reserve Program work.

“These performance bonuses are possible because of a cooperative effort between federal, state and local groups and individuals with the common goal of helping people help the land,” Knight said.  “The conservation ethic and hard work of people who live on and work the land as well as others in the agriculture community made these awards possible.”

 Performance incentives are awarded to states that achieve a high level of program efficiency and optimize environmental benefits. These payments bring more participation in NRCS conservation programs and provide more conservation benefits for producers and communities.

NRCS considered factors such as effectively addressing national priorities, strategic planning and program implementation, addressing state and local resource concerns, program delivery effectiveness, use of technical service providers and contracts with limited resource farmers and ranchers.

In addition to the federal dollars, cooperative conservation on private land is supported by contributions from state and local sources, tribes, conservation districts and nongovernmental organizations, as well as from landowners who implement conservation practices and resource management systems.

Additional information on conservation programs can be found at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs or http://www.ar.nrcs.usda.gov/programs.

< Back to News