Cardin, Cummings, Sarbanes Join Agricultural Leaders, Conservationists in Applauding First Grants to Chesapeake Bay Watershed from New Farm Bill Program

U.S. Senator Ben Cardin, Representatives Elijah E. Cummings and John Sarbanes (All D-Md.), U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Chief Jason Weller, Maryland Agriculture Secretary "Buddy" Hance and prominent conservation organizations today assembled at the Howard County Conservancy to celebrate the inaugural round of Chesapeake Bay conservation funding administered under a new Farm Bill program.

Speaking at the Gudelsky Environmental Education Center, Senator Cardin, a senior member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, lauded the Regional Conservation Partnership Program grants, which total about $19 million. "The Chesapeake Bay delegation fought incredibly hard to ensure the delivery of funding to communities throughout the Chesapeake Bay region through the Farm Bill," Senator Cardin said. "The RCPP grants bring together conservation organizations, cities and townships, universities, agricultural associations and businesses to make decisions about Chesapeake Bay conservation at the local level. I am confident that we can help our farmers and our Chesapeake Bay at the same time. This RCPP funding proves it."

"The Chesapeake Bay is a national treasure that many Maryland families not only enjoy but rely on in a variety of ways," Congressman Cummings said. "I am excited to celebrate the steps toward restoration that these new RCPP funds will allow us to take, but we have a long way to go before our work on this issue is done. I remain committed to working with my colleagues at the federal level to secure resources that will restore the Chesapeake, and keep it healthy and beautiful for generations yet unborn."

"One of our greatest challenges in protecting the Chesapeake Bay will be to reduce runoff from the roads, homes and farms that cover the Bay Watershed," said Congressman Sarbanes. "But with public-private partnerships like the USDA Regional Conservation Partnership Program, we can provide local Maryland farmers with the resources they need to safeguard the vitality and beauty of the Bay for future generations."

"As venture capitalists provide financial resources to burgeoning, high-potential growth startups, USDA must lead in a new venture conservationist movement that empowers and launches new, high-opportunity startup partnerships that deliver locally-led conservation solutions," said NRCS Chief Weller. "RCPP puts our partners in the driver's seat. Projects are led locally, and demonstrate the value of strong public-private partnerships that deliver solutions to natural resource challenges."

The RCPP emphasizes cooperation between producers and regional stakeholders to work together to improve the effectiveness of agricultural conservation activities by leveraging non-government funds in support of conservation projects. The RCPP also focuses conservation funds on regions with the greatest conservation needs. Allocation of the funding is divided among a state competitive process (25%), the NRCS for projects based on national competitive process (40%), and projects in eight critical conservation areas (35%). In summer 2014, the Chesapeake Bay Watershed was designated as a Critical Conservation Areas that is eligible for set-aside funding. Details follow on the recently awarded grants.

Source