Description
SUMMARY: NRCS, an agency under the USDA, in the Missouri State Office, is seeking to partner with, and support the efforts of, natural resource conservation partners and to promote public awareness and implementation of Farm Bill activities including, but not limited to, conducting conservation outreach workshops, conferences, and training, that will help educate Missouri’s farm community, private landowners, conservation organizations, cooperating agencies, and general citizenry. This notice identifies the objectives, eligibility criteria, and application instructions. Applications will be screened for completeness and compliance with the provisions of this notice. Incomplete and/or noncompliant applications will be eliminated from competition and notification of elimination will be sent to the applicant. The Missouri State Conservationist reserves the right not to fund any or all applications. NRCS will accept applications under this notice for single or multiyear applications submitted by eligible entities. The purpose of this announcement is to partner with and support the efforts of natural resource conservation partners and to promote public awareness and implementation of Farm Bill activities including, but not limited to, conducting conservation outreach workshops, conferences, and training, that will help educate Missouri’s farm community, private landowners, conservation organizations, cooperating agencies, and general citizenry. The main focus areas are described below. NRCS will accept applications under this notice for single or multiyear applications submitted by eligible entities. Applicants interested in multiyear agreements need to so indicate on their application(s). Conservation partners are invited to apply for NRCS assistance for the following opportunities: 1. Outreach Workshops and/or Conferences (includes Women in Agriculture): Funding is intended to promote public awareness of NRCS programs and further the development of NRCS relationships with its conservation partners and participants, women agricultural producers, Veterans, minority and limited resource landowners, and Historically Underserved agricultural producers. NRCS’s objective is to increase public awareness of NRCS conservation programs at public forums specifically targeted to provide information on current agricultural topics of interest to underserved segments of the regional agricultural population (e.g., county fairs, trade shows, conferences, and similar public meetings), and to promote public awareness of NRCS programs and further the development of NRCS relations with its conservation partners and participants. Direct involvement of conservation partners will enhance effectiveness of programs and ensure widest dissemination to the public while also providing an opportunity to provide information on current agricultural topics of interest to underserved segments of the regional agricultural population. 2. Soil Health Workshops and/or Field Days: Provide learning opportunities to educate Missouri agricultural producers who are following or considering soil health improvement strategies, e.g., soil health factors and/or management techniques that are available to improve soil health conditions. Applicant must demonstrate the capability to unite members of the agriculture science and technology communities to share their knowledge on soil health with producers and other interested parties. 3. Organic and Specialty Crop Workshops: Provide learning opportunities to educate Missouri agricultural producers who are following or considering the use of organics or considering transitioning to organic cropping systems for vegetables, fruits, specialty crops, produce, berries, and non- traditional agricultural production efforts in Missouri. Examples include: Promotion and expansion of field-to-market efforts; voluntary landowner supported efforts to educate producers on how to implement organic farming techniques and improve understanding of organic labeling, marketing, and organic production benefits; encourage and demonstrate marketing and distribution of vegetables and produce for rural economic development through farmers markets and food hub related aggregation efforts; and encourage technical assistance, education, research, technology transfer, and public awareness of economically and environmentally sustainable agricultural production techniques associated with organic and specialty crop production. 4. Water Quality Improvement and Drainage Water Management Workshops: Promote adoption of intensive water management and improvement of water quality through sponsored workshops. NRCS objective is to educate producers about the benefits of drainage water management practices through on-site demonstrations. Applicant must demonstrate the capability to coordinate workshops to achieve NRCS objectives. These practices help producers by reducing input costs and reducing energy use and also supports reduced nitrogen loading to surface waters through controlled release at times of lesser pollutant concentrations. These management systems can contribute to lower nutrient loading in the Mississippi River Basin project area.