Latest news with #RegionalConservationPartnershipProgram
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Largest federal grant in Mass Audubon history terminated by Trump admin
The largest federal grant in Mass Audubon's 129-year history has been terminated by the Trump administration, leaving uncertain the future of 10,000 acres of forests and wetlands in the Connecticut River Watershed. Mass Audubon, the largest conservation organization in New England, received the $25 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Regional Conservation Partnership Program last October — a slice of $1.5 billion in financial commitments to 92 conservation projects around the country. The funding was part of an expansion created by the Biden-era Inflation Reduction Act. According to Politico, many of the termination notifications didn't explain why the grants were cut. A USDA spokesperson told the publication that Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins was returning the Regional Conservation Partnership Program 'to the Farm Bill's established priorities.' The funding would have protected 10,000 acres in the Connecticut River Watershed, according to Mass Audubon, as well as 'fostered partnerships with landowners to restore forest habitat by removing dams, restoring floodplain forests, and engaging in other restorative land management practices.' Read more: 'Small money, huge impact;' We traveled Conn. River to spot hazards of missing buoys 'Terminating grants that conserve our forests, keep working lands working, act as a flood protection buffer for communities, and leverage millions from other funding sources simply makes no sense, and represents a loss for all of us,' David O'Neill, president and CEO of Mass Audubon, said in a statement. The grant also included money that would have assisted in the development of a new measurement and monitoring approach for private landowners to evaluate conservation outcomes — using field measurements, LiDar (light detection and ranging), satellite imaging and AI machine learning to measure and monitor carbon, biodiversity and flood resilience. Mass Audubon had partnered with the Center for Geospatial Solutions at the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy to develop the tool. The $25 million grant featured partnerships with Kestrel Land Trust, Mount Grace Land Conservation Trust, Hilltown Land Trust, East Quabbin Land Trust, Connecticut River Conservancy, Trout Unlimited and the Connecticut River Watershed Partnership. Mass Audubon said it is currently weighing its appeal options with the Trump administration. Springfield joins class action lawsuit against feds over cancelled EPA grant Why a database of bug genes could be one of Trump's most devastating cuts at Harvard How dishwashing plastic containers fuels heart issues and pollution Michigan tribes fight for $23M clawed back by Trump's EPA in DEI purge Read the original article on MassLive.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Vollinger Farm in Northampton permanently conserved with first-of-its-kind federal funding
NORTHAMPTON, Mass. (WWLP) – One of Northampton's largest remaining unprotected farms has been permanently conserved, thanks to a groundbreaking approach to federal conservation funding. Mass. officials support local farms during National Dairy Month Kestrel Land Trust announced the preservation of 122 acres of the 217-acre Vollinger Farm, ensuring the land remains dedicated to agriculture and wildlife habitat. Located on North Farms Road, the property faces a higher risk of development than farmland in the floodplains of the Connecticut River. Recognizing its ecological and agricultural importance, landowner Robert 'Bob' Vollinger partnered with Kestrel Land Trust for more than five years to make conservation a reality. 'This complex process to become qualified for and hold an Agricultural Land Easement required a steep learning curve for everyone involved,' said Mark Wamsley, Kestrel's Conservation Director. The project marks the first time Kestrel has held a federally funded easement, made possible through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). Kestrel participated in the program with The Nature Conservancy and other partners to access funding under the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program's Agricultural Land Easement (ACEP-ALE) component. 'ACEP-ALE aims to protect the long-term viability of the nation's food supply by preventing the conversion of productive farmland to non-agricultural uses,' said Rita Thibodeau, NRCS Massachusetts Assistant State Conservationist for Programs. 'The program supports preserving high-quality agricultural soils, maintaining the integrity of working farms, and ensuring that land remains in private ownership while under conservation protection.' While Massachusetts commonly uses the state's Agricultural Preservation Restriction (APR) program to conserve farmland, the Vollinger Farm project used a different path. The RCPP version of ALE promotes innovation, enabling conservation of both farmland and critical wildlife habitat—a dual purpose well-suited to the mix of open fields and woodlands on the property. In total, the RCPP contributed $749,500 in federal funding. Mass Audubon's Catalyst Fund added $100,000 to the project. Another 80 acres of the farm are currently protected under the state's Farm Viability Program, which funded barn renovations for Vollinger. Vollinger Farm, which has been in the family for three generations, sits next to the Broad Brook–Fitzgerald Lake Greenway, the largest conservation area in Northampton. The farm once focused on dairy but has evolved under Bob Vollinger's stewardship to produce hay, raise beef cows, and grow seasonal crops like squash, mums, and Christmas trees. 'Conserving the farm was always my goal,' Vollinger said. 'Now it will also help me plan for the future and contribute to my retirement. I'm looking forward to spending more time on the farm and being out on the land in the coming years.' WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
IL Department of Agriculture receives $7M for new program
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — The Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) is launching a new program thanks in part to a hefty grant. IDOA was able to secure a $7 million USDA grant to launch their Infield Conservation for Operationalizing Vital Ecosystem Resilience (I-COVER) program. The program is offering cost-share and financial incentives to landowners and producers who are new adopters of cover crops or who use new techniques for earlier establishment of cover crops. Bill in the Illinois capitol would create more guardrails for tax levies The USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) grant between Illinois, Indiana and Iowa is establishing a three-year program for cover crops planted from 2025-2027. 'Research shows that cover crops improve soil health, reduce erosion, increase drought resistance, and reduce pests, weeds and diseases,' Jerry Costello II, Illinois Director of Agriculture, said. 'Illinois is home to some of the most fertile soil in the world, and I encourage farmers to participate in this important new program to conserve and protect it.' The following rates will be available to selected applications for the following practice scenarios for each of three years of this program: $61.13 per acre for one or more cover crop species, winter killed $85.65 per acre for single cover crop species, spring terminated $105.40 per acre for one or more cover crop species, spring terminated IDOA is going to choose applications on a first come, first served basis. The first application per county will be prioritized, then all remaining applications will be prioritized on a first come, first served basis for qualified and verified applicants. Sen. Durbin files bill aiming to curb gun trafficking to cartels 'IDOA will verify applications and respective acreage, and local Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) staff will check selected applicants' USDA Farm Bill eligibility, work with applicants on conservation planning, verify practice implementation, and assist with payment and reporting documents,' part of the press release reads. 'Program viability is subject to availability of federal funds.' One requirement is that a copy of the CCC-902, FSA Subsidiary Report and Producer Farm Data or proof of control of the land will be needed if an applicant is selected. Additionally, acres must not be currently enrolled in other state, federal or private programs to implement cover crops and applicants must have control of the land for the length of the program. Applications and pre-enrollment are both available at by selecting the I-COVER program link on the home page. Pre-enrollment opens at 8 a.m. on Feb. 10, the program opens on March 3 at 8 a.m. and it closes on March 14 at 11:59 p.m. For additional information on the program, visit the I-COVER Program Rules webpage or contact IDOA at 217-782-6297 or Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
