Rice Conservation Program Renewed for $7 Million
By Emily Woodall, USA Rice
It’s been a rough 2020 so far, but area rice farmers finally got some good news with the recent announcement that the Mid-South Graduated Water Stewardship Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), led by USA Rice, has been renewed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture with a $7 million award from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).
“The 2018 Farm Bill allows USDA to renew worthy RCPP projects and the Rice Stewardship Partnership’s Mid-South project was an obvious candidate,” said Josh Hankins, the USA Rice field director who manages the Rice Stewardship Partnership.
“This new funding will allow the Partnership to implement working lands conservation practices for rice producers in Missouri, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana.”
To date, Partnership program opportunities have focused on three core areas: water management, nutrient management, and winter habitat for wildlife. The renewed Graduated Water Stewardship RCPP will continue that focus.