2004 News Releases | Arkansas NRCS

Little Rock, Ark., Nov. 3, 2004 – Four Arkansas watersheds have been selected for the Natural Resources Conservation Service's 2005 Conservation Security Program.

NRCS provides funds to ALFDC

Little Rock, Ark., Sept. 15, 2004 — The USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service is providing funds for an Arkansas Land and Farm Development Corporation project to help limited resource and socially disadvantaged farmers increase their participation in conservation while maintaining economic sustainable farm operations.

USDA provides $66,000 grant to University of Arkansas

Little Rock, Ark., Sept. 15, 2004—Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman announced today the University of Arkansas will receive a $66,000 grant for a project to reduce nutrient runoff and ammonia emissions from poultry litter with pasture renovation and litter incorporation. Total cost of the project is $132,000.

USDA provides $247,800 to Arkansas for Animal Agriculture Conservation

Little Rock, Ark., Aug. 3, 2004 – Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman recently announced Arkansas will receive $427,800 in Environmental Quality Incentives Program funds to address animal agriculture conservation needs.

Grassland Reserve Program sign-ups continue through Aug. 6

Little Rock, Ark., July 19, 2004 – Sign ups for the 2004 Grassland Reserve Program continue through Aug. 6 at the local USDA service center.

Little River Ditches Watershed selected for 2004 Conservation Security Program sign-up

Little Rock, Ark., May 25, 2004 — The Little River Ditches watershed, located in Craighead, Mississippi and Poinsett counties in Northeast Arkansas, has been selected as one of the nation’s 18 priority watersheds that will be used in the fiscal year 2004 Conservation Security Program sign-up to be held this summer, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service announced today.

USDA announces priority watersheds for 2004 sign-up in the Conservation Security Program

WASHINGTON, May 20, 2004 -- Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman today announced the priority watersheds that will be used in the fiscal year 2004 Conservation Security Program sign-up to be held this summer. On May 4, 2004, USDA announced the process that would be used to select these watersheds.

USDA announces interim final rule, public comment period for Grassland Reserve Program

WASHINGTON, May 17, 2004 -- Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman today announced the release of an interim final rule to implement the Grassland Reserve Program (GRP), authorized in the 2002 Farm Bill. The GRP helps landowners restore and protect grassland, rangeland, pastureland, shrubland and certain other lands and provides assistance for rehabilitating grasslands.

It's Time to determine eligibility for Conservation Security Program

Little Rock, Ark., May 14, 2004 – Farmers and ranchers with a majority of their land in the Little River Ditches Watershed in northern Arkansas and southeastern Missouri can sign up for the Conservation Security Program July 6-30. However, they first must complete self-assessment workbooks, which are available now at USDA service centers or online at www.nrcs.usda.gov.

NRCS celebrates American Wetlands Month at Woodson Wetlands Reserve Program Site

Little Rock, Ark., May 14, 2004 – A wetlands project in Pulaski County gives the state a historic opportunity to regain thousands of acres of wetlands during American Wetlands Month.

NRCS celebrates American Wetlands Month

Little Rock, Ark., May 10, 2004 – A wetland project in Pulaski County gives the state a historic opportunity to regain thousands of acres of wetlands during American Wetlands Month.

USDA seeks nominations for Agricultural Air Quality Task Force

WASHINGTON, April 29, 2004—The U.S. Department of Agriculture today called for nominations for qualified persons to serve as members of the Agricultural Air Quality Task Force.

NRCS recognizes engineer during National Volunteer Week

LITTLE ROCK, Ark., April 19, 2004 — A shortage of engineering jobs in the Little Rock area has proven beneficial to the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service. Rachel Lipsey heard about NRCS from a classmate at the University of Arkansas where she graduated with a biological and agricultural engineering degree. However, since graduating, engineering jobs have been scarce.

USDA signs agreement with the American Seed Trade Association

WASHINGTON, April 2, 2004—The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service Chief Bruce Knight recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) to promote better exchange of seed technology.

Arkansas High teacher leads FFA students to win national award

LITTLE ROCK, Ark., March 26, 2004 — Curtis Mudford and the FFA at Arkansas High School will be presented the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service’s 2003 National Earth Team Volunteer Group of the Year award at 11 a.m., April 2, in the high school library at 1500 Jefferson in Texarkana Ark.

Arkansan wins 2003 National Earth Team NRCS Employee of the Year Award

LITTLE ROCK, Ark., March 26, 2004 — Debra Crawford, district conservationist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service in Miller County, Ark., was recently awarded the 2003 National Earth Team NRCS Employee of the Year award for her leadership and contributions to the NRCS South Central Region Earth Team Bluebird Trail.

NRCS sets application deadline for ground and surface water conservation funds

Little Rock, Ark., March 16, 2004 — The Natural Resources Conservation Service announced today almost $2.5 million of the $16.5 million of the Environmental Quality Incentives Program funding is available to producers of irrigated cropland lying within the Cache River, Grand Prairie and Beouf-Tensas ground water study areas identified by the Arkansas Soil and Water Conservation Commission. The deadline to sign up for GSWC fund and regular EQIP funds is April 2.

NRCS sets application deadline for Environmental Quality Incentives Program

Little Rock, AR, March 16, 2004 — The USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service announced today the sign-ups for its Environmental Quality Incentives Program continue through April 2. More than $16.5 million in fiscal year 2004 funds has been made available for EQIP in Arkansas – an increase of 44 percent from last year’s total of $11.5 million.

NRCS sets application deadline for Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program

Little Rock, Ark., March 16, 2004 — The Natural Resources Conservation Service announced today the sign-ups for its Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program continue through April 2.

2004 funding totals $660,000 for WHIP in Arkansas. Last year’s funding totaled $521,000.

NRCS expands technical assistance availability

Little Rock, Ark., March 3, 2004 — The Natural Resources Conservation Service is expanding the availability of technical assistance to private landowners by encouraging the use of third parties – called technical service providers – to assist in delivering conservation technical services to farmers, ranchers and others.

USDA provides $3 million for conservation projects that benefit coral reefs

BIG ISLAND, Hawaii, Feb. 3, 2004 — USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service Chief Bruce Knight today announced that $3 million will be provided for innovative conservation projects on private land to improve water quality in watersheds that outlet to coral reef habitats. A special priority will be given to projects involving limited resource farmers that reduce land-based impacts on coral reefs.

USDA announces new minority scholarship programs

BIG ISLAND, Hawaii, Feb. 3, 2004 — USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service Chief Bruce Knight today announced two new minority pilot scholarship programs that will be offered in 2004.

USDA announces release of $1.5 billion for voluntary conservation programs in FY 2004

WASHINGTON — Agriculture Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment Mark Rey announced Jan. 28 the release of nearly $1.5 billion in funding for conservation programs on working lands this fiscal year. The distribution of funds to states makes conservation programs administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service operational.

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2004 Arkansas News Releases

Four Arkansas watersheds selected for 2005 Conservation Security Program