NRCS Tennessee encourages qualified private landowners to apply for ACEP-WREDeadline to apply is November 3, 2023The USDA NRCS has announced an application deadline for fiscal year 2023 funding for the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) which includes special emphasis projects through NRCS partnerships with the Wetland Reserve Enhancement Partnership (WRE) and Regional Conservation Partnership Program. Private landowners or entities are encouraged to apply by Friday, November 3, 2023. “Tennessee is committed to preserving working agricultural lands to help protect and restore vital sensitive wetlands that provide important wildlife habitat and improve water quality,” NRCS Tennessee State Conservationist Sheldon Hightower said. “ACEP-WRE will allow landowners to successfully restore, enhance, and protect habitat for wildlife on their lands, reduce damage from flooding, recharge groundwater, and provide outdoor recreational and educational opportunities.” ACEP-WRE can be enrolled as 30-year or perpetual, based on the landowner(s) desired management of the offered property. 30-year easements are valued at 25 percent less than perpetual easements and landowners are responsible for 25 percent of restoration costs whereas perpetual easements are eligible for a 100 percent restoration cost-share. Alternatively, landowners have the option to offer their property at a reduced purchase and/or restoration cost to improve application ranking. ACEP-Agricultural Land Easements are enrolled for perpetuity to protect the long-term viability of the nation’s food supply by preventing conversion of productive working lands to non-agricultural uses. Applications for the ACEP-Agricultural Land Easement will only be accepted from eligible sponsoring entities, not individual landowners. Eligible entities include State or local units of government, Indian Tribes, or nongovernmental organizations, such as a conservancy or a land trust. Through ACEP-Agricultural Land Easement, NRCS provides financial assistance to eligible partners for purchasing agricultural easements that protect the agricultural use and conservation values of eligible land. In the case of working farms, the program helps farmers keep their land in agriculture. Applications received after the designated cutoff date of Friday, November 3 will be considered in the next program year or in subsequent application periods, if announced. If a landowner is applying for ACEP on multiple parcels of land, any non-contiguous parcels must be submitted as separate applications. Contiguous multiple parcels may be submitted as one application, provided the ownership is identical for each parcel. Under the 2018 Farm Bill, ACEP-WRE identifies water quality as a program purpose for enrollment of wetland reserve easements. Entities and landowners interested in applying for ACEP-WRE funding should visit the NRCS ACEP webpage or contact their local NRCS Service Center. Contact Garrett Morris at garrett.morris@usda.gov or 615-277-2576, for more information about the ACEP program in Tennessee. Click here to print full version of this news release. Please visit the NRCS Tennessee website here. USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. In the Biden-Harris administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. |
Agricultural Conservation Easement Program – SIGNUP NOW TO NOV. 3
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NOV. 1 DEADLINE FOR ORGANIC CERTIFICATION COST SHARE
Interested in obtaining your organic certification? Montgomery producers should contact our friends at Tennessee Dept. of Agriculture to get started and the USDA – Farm Service Agency for financial assistance to reduce the cost of organic certification! 
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2023 SOIL LAND JUDGING CONTINUES TO GROW
CONGRATS to Clarksville High FFA team #1 on FIRST place!
The Soil/Land Judging Contest continues to grow every year! Big thanks to Austin Peay State University for co-hosting the 2023 contest! UT TSU Montgomery County Extension, USDA-NRCS Soil Scientists and Soil Conservationists, USDA Earth Team Volunteers, Kiwanis Club of Clarksville, TN, TDA Watershed Coordinator, Montgomery Farm Bureau Women, Stewart County Soil & Water Conservation District, and Robertson County Soil & Water Conservation District employees came together to work with high school students studying agriculture and conservation for both Montgomery and Robertson Counties. 42 students competed in a local practice round before regionals late September. Next year’s local contest will be open to additional surrounding counties in order to help students prepare in the area of soils knowledge and how soil and its classifications, abilities and conservation is vital to our survival.
WE SO APPRECIATE OUR AG TEACHERS WHO MAKE THIS POSSIBLE!!
1st place – Clarksville High FFA Team 1
2nd place – Clarksville High FFA Team 2
3rd place – Montgomery Central FFA
1st place Highest Individual Score – Noah, CHS Team 2
2nd place Highest Individual Score – Lish, CHS Team 1
3rd place Highest Individual Score – Ray, MCHS Alternate
4th place Highest Individual Score – Lane, NWHS alternate
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COME WORK WITH US!
USDA – NRCS Soil Conservationist positions open – APP DDL AUG 25!!
Work outside, work inside, see nature at its best, assist conservation on the ground, give technical advice, conservation planning and financial assistance! Get paid to give back 
A vacancy announcement for six GS-457-5/7/9 Soil Conservationist positions has been posted on USAJobs.
The TN recruitment is for the following locations:
- Union City
- Lexington
- Clarksville
- Springfield
- Madisonville
- Morristown
The announcement opened August 14th and will close on Friday, August 25th.
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Tennessee announces Conservation Stewardship Program 30-day deadline extension
Natural Resource Conservation Service – Tennessee has announced an extension to the 2023 Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) Classic and Inflation Reduction Act application deadline. Tennessee agricultural producers who wish to be considered for the current fiscal year funding should apply by Monday, September 11, 2023.
Through CSP, Natural Resource Conservation Service helps farmers and ranchers earn payments for maintaining their current level of conservation across their entire operation. CSP provides the opportunity to expand their conservation activities by adopting new technologies and management techniques. The program provides many benefits including increased crop yields, decreased inputs, wildlife habitat improvements, and increased resilience to weather extremes. CSP is for working lands including cropland, pastureland, rangeland, nonindustrial private forestland, and agricultural land under the jurisdiction of a tribe. Farmsteads and other associated agricultural lands are also included. CSP also provides specific support for organic and transitioning to organic producers.
CSP is a program made for farm operators. To be eligible, contract participants must meet Farm Bill Program eligibility in conjunction with the Farm Service Agency, including meeting the highly erodible land and wetland compliance requirements and the adjusted gross income limits.
The application deadline is September 11, 2023, however through the streamlined application and contract approval approach, applications will be assessed and ranked as they are submitted to local USDA Service Centers. NRCS Tennessee will be utilizing an ACT NOW approach. Based on the availability of funds, applications with a score greater than one point will be preapproved once assessed and ranked until funds have been expelled.
Interested producers looking to increase their level of conservation across their operation in Montgomery county can apply for CSP within our office – 25 Jefferson St, Clarksville or by calling 931-368-0252 x 2.
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.
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Montgomery County Soil & Water Conservation District 