USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack visited Minnesota State University’s Mankato campus on Wednesday to announce a $1.5 billion investment in the Regional Conservation Partnership Program.
Vilsack said this level of investment will help farmers, ranchers and forest landowners adopt and expand conservation strategies and adopt climate-smart agricultural practices. He added that it can also save farmers money, create new sources of income and improve productivity.
“It’s the total contribution that rural America makes to the country,” Vilsack said. “And for far too long, that part of the world, that part of this country, hasn’t received its fair share. Now it’s getting the recognition it deserves, and we’re starting to see the results.”
Applications for the project are currently being accepted until July 2nd.
MPR News is your trusted resource for getting the news you need. With your support, MPR News provides courageous journalism and real conversations that are accessible to everyone, without paywalls or barriers. Your gift makes a difference.
The national program’s funding priorities are climate-smart agriculture, urban agriculture, conservation, and environmental justice. This is part of the Biden administration’s effort to direct 40% of all gains from climate change, clean energy and other federal investments to disadvantaged communities.
Minnesota Agriculture Commissioner Tom Petersen said these investments in rural areas are important and support is needed to build the infrastructure to achieve these goals.
“I would like to consider a partnership,” he said. “These are the same discussions that are happening in our state: How can we make farmers’ lives better? How can we make our planet better?”
This investment will be made available through the Farm Bill and the Inflation Control Act and will allow USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to increase funding for the RCPP. NRCS also announced progress toward streamlining and simplifying the RCPP and improving processes and implementation.
“Last year saw unprecedented demand for our Regional Conservation Partnership Program, with strong interest in conservation from farmers and ranchers,” Vilsack said. “The increased funding from President Biden’s Inflation Control Act will allow us to invest even more in this important program this year, increasing our impact around the world. We look forward to seeing what a more streamlined, customer-focused Regional Conservation Partnership program can do to further advance conservation efforts on the ground in the coming months and years.”
NRCS will also set aside $100 million for tribal-led projects.
Latest information on avian influenza
Vilsack said at a news conference that federal officials are reassuring the community that avian influenza poses little risk to humans after a case was reported in Texas due to contact with cattle. Stated.
Vilsack said vaccine research is underway and the USDA is monitoring the virus while determining the cause of human infection.
“We need people to know what we’re doing, we’re taking it seriously, and the risk to people is low.” [and] Milk is safe,” he said. “Fortunately, the cows recovered after seven to 10 days and are now as productive as before they contracted the virus.”
The USDA is working with state veterinarians and commissioners and says the risk the virus poses to people is very low. They are also working with the affected dairy and poultry industries on biosecurity to stop the contamination of birds and cattle where farmers have both types of operations.
