WASHINGTON, Jan. 13, 2022 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture at the present time offered as a lot as $225 million in accessible funding for conservation companions thru the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). RCPP is a companion-pushed program that leverages collective property to search out solutions to address natural resource challenges on agricultural land. This yr’s funding announcements comprise opportunities for projects that address climate swap, succor historically underserved producers and support urban agriculture.
“RCPP is public-non-public partnership at its supreme,” acknowledged Pure Sources Conservation Provider (NRCS) Chief Terry Cosby. “We’re harnessing the vitality of partnership to procedure lasting solutions to world challenges, be pleased climate swap, and support producers and communities who have been underserved in the previous.”
There are two kinds of funding opportunities below RCPP: RCPP Classic and RCPP Different Funding Arrangements (AFA). RCPP Classic projects are implemented the usage of NRCS contracts and easements with producers, landowners and communities, in collaboration with venture companions. Thru RCPP AFA, companions have extra flexibility in working right away with agricultural producers to support the enchancment of recent conservation constructions and approaches that can no longer in every other case be accessible below RCPP Classic. Challenge forms that will probably be suited to AFA, as highlighted by the 2018 Farm Invoice comprise:
- Projects that recount innovative approaches to leverage the federal funding in conservation.
- Projects that deploy a pay-for-performance conservation design.
- Projects that catch out about gigantic-scale infrastructure funding that generate conservation benefits for agricultural producers and nonindustrial non-public forest householders.
USDA is accepting venture proposals for each substances of RCPP thru 11: 59 p.m. on April 13, 2022. Research the funding opportunity on grants.gov for RCPP Classic and RCPP AFA.
Additionally, a webinar with frequent program records for RCPP candidates is scheduled for 3-4: 30 p.m. ET on Jan. 20, 2022. Talk over with the RCPP site for records on favor part.
Funding is birth to agriculture and silviculture associations, non-authorities organizations, Indian tribes, advise and native governments, conservation districts and universities, amongst others.
Partners are anticipated to offer rate-added contributions to prolong the impact of RCPP funding in an quantity equal to or increased than the NRCS funding.
Personal landowners can comply with to favor part in an RCPP venture of their blueprint thru awarded companions or at their native USDA carrier center.
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First licensed in the 2014 Farm Invoice, RCPP has leveraged companion contributions of bigger than $1 for every $1 invested by USDA, leading to nearly $3 billion collectively invested in natural resource conservation on non-public lands. Since inception, RCPP has made 579 awards intelligent over 3,000 companion organizations. Currently there are 408 active projects, with at the least one active venture in every advise and station. Profitable RCPP projects provide innovative conservation solutions, leverage companion contributions and offer impactful and measurable outcomes.
On the present time’s RCPP announcement builds on other efforts by the Biden-Harris Administration to address climate swap. Earlier this week, NRCS offered a brand recent Conceal Carve Initiative, accessible thru the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) to support agricultural producers mitigate climate swap thru the frequent adoption of duvet crops. NRCS also offered the signup for EQIP Conservation Incentive Contracts and an enchancment to the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP).
Closing week, USDA’s Agonize Administration Company (RMA) offered minute print of the recent Post Utility Protection Endorsement, offering protection for corn producers who “shatter up comply with nitrogen,” a extra conservation pleasant blueprint to comply with fertilizer.
USDA touches the lives of all American citizens day after day in so many certain options. Within the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is reworking The US’s food gadget with a increased believe extra resilient native and regional food manufacturing, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring net admission to to safe, wholesome and nutritious food in all communities, building recent markets and streams of profits for farmers and producers the usage of climate neat food and forestry practices, making historical investments in infrastructure and shipshape vitality capabilities in rural The US, and committing to equity one day of the Department by eliminating systemic barriers and building a bunch extra representative of The US. To learn extra, consult with www.usda.gov.
