USDA-NRCS conservation programs sign-up

Do you own or manage farmland or forest land in Massachusetts? Would you like help addressing natural resource concerns on your land? If so, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) encourages you to get in touch with your local NRCS office by January 17, 2014 to apply for federal conservation programs that can provide financial and technical assistance.

“Land owners and managers who have a conservation plan, which is the required first step to participating in federal conservation programs, and submit a program application by January 17th will be ready for this next round of federal funding through the Farm Bill when it’s available,” said Christine Clarke, Massachusetts State Conservationist for NRCS.

Applications may be submitted at any time for NRCS programs that can help with soil erosion, water quality and conservation, integrated pest management, forest stand improvement, greenhouse efficiency, pasture and hayland improvement, invasive plant control or wildlife habitat improvement.

NRCS has offices in USDA Service Centers in Greenfield, Hadley, Holden, Hyannis, Pittsfield, Westford, and West Wareham, which work with local conservation districts and other partners to serve farmers and landowners throughout the commonwealth. USDA Service Center locations are listed on-line at or in the phone book under Federal Government, U.S. Department of Agriculture. General program information is available on the NRCS Massachusetts website at www.ma.nrcs.usda.gov.