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Understanding the Gulf of Mexico’s Hypoxic Zone
Spanning the shores of 5 US states and 6 Mexican states, the Gulf of Mexico is 10th largest body of water in the world, excluding oceans. It acts as a vital resource to both of its bordering countries, providing food, sport, oil, and more. Today, the Gulf of Mexico faces a growing threat that’s causing its waters to darken as marine life either leaves or
Introducing All Native Seed – A Better Way to Purchase High-Quality CRP Seed Mixes
FDCE is proud to announce the launch of our CRP seed retailer, All Native Seed. With All Native Seed, CRP contract holders can easily find the CRP seed mixes they need for their particular practice. All Native Seed offers seed mixes developed by the NRCS, as well as our own NRCS-compliant seed mixes. Whichever type you
Switchgrass: A Local, Sustainable, Cost-Saving Biofuel
Panicum virgatum, better known as switchgrass, just might be the most versatile grass around. Like other native warm season grasses (NWSG), it’s highly resilient to extreme temperatures and droughts and immune to toxic bacteria and fungus such endophyte. Endophyte can cause numerous issues in livestock and other cattle, including weight fluctuation, digestive issues, low rates of reproduction, and other health problems. Additionally, switchgrass provides protective cover
The NRCS’s Role in CRP
In our last post, we discussed the role that the FSA plays in CRP. While FSA is involved throughout the enrollment and establishment process, they’re not the only organization that contract holders work with. Another organization is the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Formally known as the Soil Conservation Service, the NRCS is an agency of the USDA that provides financial and technical
FSA’s role in CRP
The Farm Service Agency (or FSA) is a branch of the USDA that primarily oversees a number of conversation programs. In their own words, the purpose of these programs is to address issues including: Drinking water protection Reducing soil erosion Wildlife habitat preservation Preservation and restoration of forests and wetlands Aiding farmers whose farms are damaged by natural disasters Of
Improving Soil Health with Native Grasses and Forbs
Healthy soil is a critical component for life on this planet. Not only does it grow our plants and crops, but it absorbs rainfall, decomposes organisms and waste, and stores over 4 trillion tons of carbon. Forests, by comparison, only store around 360 billion tons (learn more about the importance of carbon sequestration here.) Though soil is often viewed as an