USDA Offers $40 Million To Complete Conservation Projects
By The Morning News

The U.S. Department of Agriculture will offer an additional $40 million for farmers' conservation projects that may have stalled because of rising energy prices.

The money will be set aside for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program through the department's Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Incentives program projects include construction of stacking sheds for poultry litter, stock ponds, cross fencing and other projects that help farmers and ranchers improve environmental practices on their land, said Richard Gutierrez with the Natural Resources Conservation Service at the Washington County Conservation District.

Gutierrez said a number of Northwest Arkansas farmers may qualify for extra help.

The program will apply to participants who signed incentives program contracts in 2004 or earlier and will finish their projects between March 1 and June 30.

For more information, contact District Conservationist Rhonda Foster in Washington County at (479)442-4160 extension 3 or District Conservationist Steven David in Benton County at 273-2622, extension 3.