ST PAUL, MN, January 26, 2012 — USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) State Conservationist Don Baloun today announced a funding opportunity for wetland protection, restoration and enhancement activities on eligible lands in Minnesota. Proposals for projects are due to the NRCS State Office in St. Paul, by February 10, 2012. Funding comes through the agency’s Wetlands Reserve Enhancement Program (WREP), with up to $17 million available nationwide.

St. Paul, MN, Jan. 17, 2012—USDA, EPA and the state of Minnesota today signed an agreement to develop a new state program for farmers designed to increase the voluntary adoption of conservation practices that protect local rivers, streams and other waters by reducing fertilizer run-off and soil erosion.

ST PAUL, MN, Jan. 12, 2012 –– USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Chief Dave White today announced that the cut-off date for the current Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) ranking period has been extended to January 27, 2012. Producers who maintain a high level of conservation on their land and agree to adopt higher levels of stewardship are eligible for CSP payments.

ST PAUL, MN, Jan. 5, 2012 – January 31, 2012, is the last day to submit project pre-proposals for fiscal year 2012 Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Pre-proposals support large-scale demonstration projects that test and prove original approaches to conserving America’s private lands.