NRCS Seeking Public Comments

The United States Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service is seeking public comment on its interim rule for implementing the Agricultural Conservation Program. This is the USDA's premier conservation easement program that helps landowners protect working agricultural lands and also wetlands. Using easements landowners can protect agricultural land from development, restore grazing lands and return wetlands to their original condition.

There have been a number of changes to the Agricultural Conservation Program in the 2018 Farm Bill. These changes make it stronger, more effective with the result of doing a better job of protecting farmlands, grasslands and wetlands. The NRCS will be investing more than $300 in conservation easements in fiscal 2020. NRCS state offices will be announcing signup periods for the Agricultural Conservation Program in the not too distance future.

For more information go to the Minnesota NRCS website at: nrcs.usda.gov or stop by your local NRCS office at the Government Services Office.