LUBBOCK, TX – Private and philanthropic investment is becoming increasingly important as demand for federal conservation assistance continues to exceed available funding.
Natural Resources Conservation Service Chief Colton Buckley says the agency can fund only about one in six applications through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program. That leaves many producers seeking other ways to finance conservation improvements.
Buckley says Regional Conservation Partnership Program projects can combine federal funding with private, nonprofit, state and local investment. Eligible work can include virtual fencing, intensive grazing management, nutrient management, cross fencing and cover crops.
He says those partnerships allow conservation dollars to reach more acres while giving outside organizations a financial stake in project success. The approach also helps extend federal resources where demand is greater than available appropriations.
Buckley says the goal is to maximize both public and private investment while keeping working lands productive and supporting rural communities.
Farm-Level Takeaway: Private investment can help extend limited federal conservation dollars to more producers and working acres.