NRCS New Mexico field offices have been accepting Environmental
Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and Wildlife Habitat Incentives
Program (WHIP) applications. The cutoff date for acceptance of these
applications was April 3, and contracts for conservation improvements
need to be signed by July 10, 2009. Approximately 1,350 EQIP
applications and 28 WHIP applications have been accepted. A national
Request for Proposals was out for the Agricultural Water Enhancement
Program (AWEP) with a cutoff date of April 1, and five AWEP proposals
have been received. Similarly a Request for Proposals is out for the
Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative (CCPI) with a cutoff
date of April 23. There will be national training for staff on the
Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) in May, and it is anticipated a
sign-up will begin approximately June 1. Applications for the Wetlands
Reserve Program (WRP), Grassland Reserve Program (GRP), and Farm and
Ranch Lands Protection Program (FRPP) are being accepted.
Los Lunas Plant Materials Center Garners Award
The Los Lunas Plant Material Center is being recognized nationally
for their role in authoring “A Guide for Planning Riparian Treatments in
New Mexico.” This guide was the joint venture of the New Mexico
Association of Conservation Districts and USDA-Natural Resources
Conservation Services – which is the Plant Materials Center’s parent
agency. The NRCS Plant Materials announced the Los Lunas Plant
Materials Center was the recipient of its “Notable Achievement Award” on
March 16, 2009. For the full story
click
Creosote Out: A Case Study near Deming
The Natural Resources Conservation Service is achieving success in
grassland restoration at a site north of Deming, New Mexico. The area
is showing signs of plant succession that hold the promise of more
quality grass species as the soil and seed bed are developing. For the
full story
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The conservation provisions in the 2008 Farm Bill will affect farmers
for years to come. The new provisions build on the conservation gains
made by landowners over the past decades. They simplify existing
programs and create new programs to address high priority environmental
protection goals. As the rules, notices, and press releases are being
published, New Mexicans have new opportunities for input and
participation. For more information
click
Innovations
Mark Locally-Led Conservation
The Sierra and Socorro Soil & Water Conservation Districts are
introducing some innovative riparian restoration practices to
the Armendaris Ranch at San Marcial, and in the process
showcasing locally-led conservation at its best. For the full
story
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Organic
Farm Decides to Flood Less
Rio Grande Community Farm, an agricultural collaborative at Los
Poblanos Fields Open Space in Albuquerque, is in the process of
installing subsurface drip irrigation on 16 acres of their
organic farm. With the use of both surface water and well
water, the farm hopes that drip irrigation will allow them to
increase yield and volume of food crops and therefore establish
an increased source of food for the Albuquerque Public Schools
and customers like La Montanita Coop, Whole Foods, and various
local restaurants. For the full story
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If
You Build It, They Will Come
The installation of wildlife watering facilities have enabled
Kirk and JoAnn Cobb of the Estancia area to transform 1,100
acres of abused, overgrazed, and poached land into a safe-haven
for wildlife with help from the NRCS through the Wildlife
Habitat Incentives Program. For the full story
click
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