Protecting native plants nationally with USDA-NRCS
by Eugene Kelly, Policy and Legislation Chair A conservation buffer with native plants, photo by Jennifer Hopwood, Xerces Society The Society recently had an opportunity to speak in support of native plants on a national basis. The USDA’s Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) accepted comments on the Practice Standards they use while implementing Farm Bill [ wikipedia ] programs. Landowners can apply for funding assistance – typically on a cost-share basis – to make changes to their agricultural practices that achieve a variety of conservation benefits. The general substance or goal of a particular Practice Standard can often be surmised from the title. Examples of Practice Standards promoted by NRCS include Field Border , Forest Stand Improvement , Hedgerow Planting , Streambank and Shoreline Protection , and Upland Wildlife Habitat Management . And the conservation benefits of the practices are aligned with such Farm Bill objectives as reducing ...