A bill introduced in the U.S. Senate would provide nearly $20 billion in conservation program funding.
The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 includes more than $8 billion for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, $6.75 billion for the Regional Conservation Partnership Program, $3.25 billion for the Conservation Stewardship Program, and $1.4 billion for the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program.
National Association of Conservation Districts president Michael Crowder applauded the proposed investments, saying USDA conservation programs are oversubscribed and this funding would go a long way in helping more producers implement conservation practices.
