UPDATES

Two New WCCD Scholarships for 2012! The deadline is May 1, 2012. Please see the "Scholarship" tab. 

Become a "Friend" of the District! Introducing new incentives as free admission to Tower Hill Botanical Gardens, Old Sturbridge Village, Fruitlands Museum and discounted tickets to Mass Audubon and Ecotarium! Coming soon for those interested in becoming a "Friend" of this District's Local Working Group. Make your voice count in how Farm Bill Programs target resource concerns in Worcester County. If you are a local farmer, forester, local government, nature enthusiast and a landowner in the County, interested in assessing local conservation needs and voicing concerns for your local resources, the WCCD is meeting at various locations in Worcester County for breakfast meetings in the spring of 2012. We are offering the above incentives for those who attend one breakfast meeting in the Spring and one meeting in the Fall. For more information or to get on our list of invitees, call or email Lisa.trotto@ma.usda.gov

USDA/NRCS has announced application cut-off dates for several conservation programs in Mass. These federal programs, authorized under the 2008 Farm Bill, provide financial and technical assistance to help local farmers protect soil, water and other natural resources. 

Applications for Farm Bill conservation programs may be submitted at any time, however NRCS will offer three ranking periods in 2012 with the following closing dates and following programs below:

• Feb. 3, 2012

• March 30, 2012

• June 1, 2012

Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA)-provides financial and technical assistance to agricultural producers to voluntarily address issues such as water management, water quality, and erosion control by incorporating conservation into their farming operations.

Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)- EQIP helps farmers and forest landowners address water quality, water conservation, invasive species control, soil quality, erosion control, nutrient and pest management, prescribed grazing, irrigation efficiency, energy efficiency, forest stand improvement, and other natural resource concerns.   

EQIP Organic Initiative- the EQIP Organic Initiative is a nationwide special initiative to provide financial assistance to National Organic Program (NOP) certified organic producers as well as producers in the process of transitioning to organic production. Applicants will be competing only among other organic/transitioning farmers. The objective of this initiative is to make EQIP assistance more available, appropriate and accessible to organic food producers.

Farm & Ranchland Protection Program (FRPP)- provides matching funds to help purchase development rights to keep productive farm and ranchland in agricultural uses. Working through existing programs, USDA partners with State, tribal, or local governments and non-governmental organizations to acquire conservation easements or other interests in land from landowners. USDA provides up to 50 percent of the fair market easement value of the conservation easement.

Grassland Reserve Program (GRP) -  GRP is a voluntary program offering landowners the opportunity to protect, restore, and enhance grasslands  on their property through easements and rental agreements. This year, farmland under a state Agricultural Preservation Restriction (APR) will be eligible for GRP rental agreements.                                                                                                      

Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) - WRP  offers an opportunity for landowners to voluntarily protect, restore and    enhance wetlands on their property. WRP offers three options to landowners: permanent easements, 30-year easements or 10-year restoration cost-share agreements.