CTD and NRCS host Session Two of Riparian Planning Considerations Training

This May, the Washington State Conservation Commission’s Center for Technical Development and NRCS hosted the second of two session of the 2019 Riparian Planning Considerations class in Pullman.

The full-week class included 20 students working in eastern Washington from Conservation Districts, NRCS, and Tribal Natural Resource Departments. In addition to CD’s and NRCS, instructors were drawn from Universities, Tribes, and private restoration professionals.

Three of the five days included in-field training on inventory methods and tools such as SVAP2 and forest plots. Back in class, context on broader project planning was given through presentations on watershed processes and their impact on stream channel conditions, beaver management and much more. The course culminated in a group planning exercise which was shared back to the rest of the class. Each group presented on one NRCS inventory tools discussed during the week, the resource concerns checklist, CPA-52, and specifications for site prep and planting.

As a bonus, class attendees had a chance to tour the Pullman NRCS Plant Materials Center and provide feedback on an ongoing research project spearheaded by Palouse CD and WSU focused on prioritizing conservation work.

A big thank you to all the instructors and students for a successful week!

USDA opens signup for new On-Farm Trials effort

This is a great opportunity for Washington Conservation Districts to put together individual, or collaborative, projects to install and test NRCS conservation practices and soil health measures. Consider reaching out to your neighboring Districts and/or research partners to put together a proposal.

USDA is investing up to $25 million per year over the next five years to help support the adoption and evaluation of innovative conservation approaches on agricultural lands.

USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is accepting proposals through July 15, 2019, for On-Farm Conservation Innovation Trials (On-Farm Trials), a new component of the Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) program created in the 2018 Farm Bill. On-Farm Trials include a Soil Health Demo Trial.

The On-Farm Trials funding announcement, including the 2019 funding priorities, is available here.

NRCS is now accepting proposals from the following eligible entities:

• Private entities whose primary business is related to agriculture.

• Non-governmental organizations with experience working with agricultural producers.

• Non-Federal government agencies.

A webinar for potential On-Farm Trials applicants was held on May 29, 2019. To learn more about the webinar and program, visit the CIG On-Farm Trials webpage.