USDA recently released its final rule for the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), which updates the program as directed by the 2018 farm bill.
“The final rule contains some minor adjustments made in response to public comments, and we now look forward to continuing our work with partners to use this unique and innovative program to extend the reach of conservation,” said Kevin Norton, acting Chief of USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).
RCPP promotes coordination of NRCS and partner conservation activities that help producers address on-farm, watershed and regional natural resource concerns. After releasing an interim rule, NRCS received comments from more than 65 organizations and individuals.
The final rule adopts the interim rule with the following changes: Make explicit special considerations for historically underserved producer and landowner enrollment; identify ranking criteria for proposals that specifically target needs of historically underserved producers; adjust the rule language to incorporate source water protection as a priority resource concern; remove the list of infrastructure types that would be considered for alternative funding arrangements; and increase the emphasis on conservation benefits and objectives partners seek to achieve for the ranking of proposals.
