USDA Celebrates 150 Years

May 15, 2012 marked a significant milestone for the U.S. Department of Agriculture.  On this date in 1862, President Abraham Lincoln signed legislation to create the USDA.  

Learn more about the USDA's history, resources, and programs here.

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Ranking cut off date for applications for the following initiatives is June 1, 2012:

EQIP Energy Initiative
This initiative provides financial opportunities for producers to address on-farm energy conservation through practice implementation and for development of energy conservation plans. 

EQIP Organic Initiative

This assistance helps producers plan and implement conservation practices to allow their organic operations to be environmentally sustainable.

EQIP Seasonal High Tunnel Initiative

The Seasonal High Tunnel Initiative is a voluntary program that provides financial and technical assistance to agricultural producers.  The goal of the initiative is to assist producers to extent the growing season for high value crops in an environmentally safe manner. 

NH Re-advertises Grant Opportunity for Conservation Innovation Grants

NH NRCS announces that up to $134,000 of grant funding is available to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies in New Hampshire. This funding encourages creative conservation solutions at the state level.  This is separate from the National CIG funding.  Applicants may apply for both National and State CIGs.  Applications for the state CIG are due on June 7, 2012.

2012 Announcement
More Information
 

NH Announces National Water Quality Initiative in New Hampshire

NH NRCS announces up to $134,253 of EQIP funding is available to help implement conservation practices in three local watersheds:  the Oyster River (Great Bay Watershed), Lower Lamprey River (Lamprey River Watershed), and the Squamscott River (Exeter River Watershed). NRCS will provide technical and financial assistance to producers to install conservation practices to make a difference to improve water quality in these small watersheds, as well as the Great Bay.  The ranking cut-off date for applications under this initiative is June 15, 2012. 

News Release (224 kb, pdf)
Fact Sheet (248 kb, pdf)
More Information on WQI
 

Begin the Conservation Planning Process Now (443 kb, pdf)
 

Agriculture or forest landowners in New Hampshire interested in protecting, conserving, or restoring the natural resources on their property through technical or financial assistance, or a conservation easement, are encouraged to contact their local USDA NRCS office to begin the conservation planning process. 

More Information (443 kb, pdf)

Notice to Hispanic and/or Women Farmers

If you are a woman or Hispanic farmer and believe that you were improperly denied farm loan benefits by USDA between 1981 and 2000, you may be eligible for compensation. Earlier this year, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Assistant Attorney General Tony West  announced the establishment of a process to resolve the claims of Hispanic and women farmers and ranchers who assert that they were discriminated against when seeking USDA farm loans. 

En Espaņol (66 kb, pdf)
More Info on USDA Discrimination Claims