Projects to Improve Water Quality and Quantity Announced by USDA

Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, announced that USDA will provide over $19.7 million in fiscal year 2010  for "farmers and ranchers in 10 states to conserve water and improve water quality on agricultural working lands through the Agricultural Water Enhancement Program (AWEP)."

Secretary Vilsack stated, "Agricultural producers are the first stewards of our land and water, and USDA is working hard to support efforts to protect and preserve our water resources."

According to the USDA press release, AWEP "provides technical and financial assistance to help farmers and ranchers implement activities to improve agricultural water" and is administered by USDA's Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS).  NRCS "enters into agreements with conservation partners to help landowners plan and implement conservation practices" in designated project areas.

AWEP "was established by the 2008 Farm Bill as a part of the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)," according to PR Newswire.

States covered by the project include California, Colorado, Florida, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, New York, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming.

To read the USDA press release, click here.
To read the PR Newswire story, click here.

Posted: 07/07/2010