LITTLE ROCK, AR -- Applications are now being accepted for two new Regional Conservation Partnership Projects (RCPP): the Mid-South Graduated Water Stewardship; and RSP: Improving Water Quality using Practice 590, Nutrient Management Renewal. These two projects are the latest additions to the list of 13 RCPPs the Partnership has secured to date.
The Mid-South RCPP is a four-state project focused on declining water levels across the Mississippi River Alluvial Aquifer that will target all levels of producers across the conservation spectrum, from those who are just beginning conservation efforts, to those who are on the cutting edge of conservation innovation, incentivizing all to increase conservation efforts at every level.
This project will also address nutrient management, wetland wildlife habitat, and inefficient energy use. Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi have application deadlines of
Friday, February 18, 2022, while Missouri has an application deadline of
Friday, February 25, 2022.
Mid-South eligible counties and parishes:
Arkansas: Arkansas, Ashley, Chicot, Clay, Conway, Craighead, Crittenden, Cross, Desha, Drew, Faulkner, Greene, Independence, Jackson, Jefferson, Lawrence, Lee, Lincoln, Lonoke, Mississippi, Monroe, Phillips, Poinsett, Pope, Prairie, Pulaski, Randolph, St. Francis, White, and Woodruff
Louisiana: Avoyelles, Catahoula, Concordia, East Carroll, Franklin, Madison, Morehouse, Rapides, Richland, St. Landry, St. Martin, Tensas, and West Carroll
Mississippi: Bolivar, Coahoma, Humphreys, Leflore, Tallahatchie, Tate, Tunica, Washington
Missouri: Bollinger, Butler, Dunklin, Mississippi, New Madrid, Pemiscot, Ripley, Scott, and Stoddard
The RSP: Improving Water Quality project uses planning and application of the USDA’s Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) Practice 590, Precision Nutrient Management. This project is focused on the Louisiana Mermentau Basin with the goal of helping rice producers ensure their management practices are used to increase uptake of fertilizers by crops through implementation of the Four Rs – the Right source, Right rate, Right time, and Right place – and prevent sediment and nutrient losses, resulting in water quality improvements. The application deadline for this signup is Friday, February 18, 2022.
Improving Water Quality using Practice 590 eligible parishes:
Acadia, Allen, Avoyelles, Calcasieu, Cameron, Evangeline, Jeff Davis, Lafayette, Rapides, St. Landry, St. Martin, and Vermilion.
After completion of these projects, the 13 RCPP projects will have provided nearly $97 million in conservation funds to rice farmers and impacted an additional 800,000 U.S. rice acres.
None of this would be possible without the continued support of the Partnership’s financial sponsors, including: the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Walmart Foundation, the Mosaic Company Foundation, Nestlé Purina PetCare, Chevron U.S.A., RiceTec, Entergy, Anheuser-Busch InBev, Freeport-McMoRan Foundation, Irene W. and C.B. Pennington Foundation, BASF, American Rice, Inc. – Riviana Foods, Inc., Joe W. and Dorothy Dorsett Brown Foundation, Delta Plastics, Riceland Foods, Corteva Agriscience, Cargill, Wells Fargo, Farmers Rice Milling Company, Horizon Ag, Turner’s Creek & Bombay Hook Farms, MacDon Industries, Farm Credit Associations of Arkansas, and Ducks Unlimited.
You may access the
2021 Rice Stewardship Partnership Annual Report online, and go to the
USA Rice website for more information on the Partnership.