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USDA Reps Discuss 2008 Farm Bill With Locals

By Kylea McMurray
Moapa Valley Progress
Submitted July 16, 2008


Last Tuesday representatives from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), a branch of the U.S. Department of Agriculture came to Moapa Valley for two presentations on the new Food Conservation and Energy Act of 2008, commonly called the Farm Bill. They discussed the new bill and it’s implications for local farmers and land projects with farmers and representatives from the Farm Bureau and the Paiute Tribe in Moapa.

Rodney Dahl and Peggy Hughes represented NRCS, and John Jeffredo of the Las Vegas Field Office was present as the local NRCS representative.

Rodney Dahl gave presentations and provided information about several programs provided for in the new bill.

The previous Farm Bill provided about $6 million to Nevada for farming, conservation and other agricultural programs. The new bill provides $8 million for programs. “This year we have more money to spend here in Nevada than ever before,” said Dahl.

Dahl also explained the many different funding pools that those funds will go towards in Nevada. These included Animal Feeding Operations, Pest Management, Emergency Fire Rehabilitation, Fuels Pre-Suppression and Ground and Surface Water programs. Most funding in Nevada goes to a program called EQIP, or the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, which rewards farmers for using environmentally sound practices while producing crops.

The money available in these funding pools helps producers afford many different projects. Anyone can apply for help with specific projects and receive funding for things like more efficient irrigation systems, fencing, weed control and fire control. There are also special funds allocated for beginning farmers and those with limited resources.

“Money is allocated into the many different funding pools by county and by resource concern,” said Dahl. “In the past most of our funds have gone to farms in the northern part of the state, because that’s where we get the most applications. We’re here today to let more people in the South know the kinds of programs we have available.”

Dahl also stressed the importance of local work groups. He said that work groups can be made up of small and large groups of people who meet and discuss agricultural concerns and solutions. These work groups can then discuss those problems with NRCS as a whole, and can better influence how much funding the NRCS allocates to specific programs and what programs get more priority funding.

“This is one of our first stops out of approximately 30,” said Peggy Hughes, Assistant State Conservationist with NRCS. “We really want to travel to farming and agriculture areas in the state to let people know about the programs we offer, and we decided with this new Farm Bill we should get out in the field to see the public interest.”

“There is funding available for many different kinds of agriculture programs in Nevada,” said Dahl.

Those who wish to apply can contact the NRCS Las Vegas Field Office for more information about programs specific to this area.

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