Farming and ranching generate nearly half of the agricultural and food processing industry’s revenue in New Mexico - about 4 billion dollars a year. A program that aims to help farmers and ranchers boost crop numbers and protect habitats for wildlife is getting an update. Now, the public can weigh in.
The Conservation Stewardship Program helps people manage land and resources with the idea that conservation can be efficient for agricultural business here.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is taking public comment on proposed changes to the program. These include providing financial support for doing organic production, developing a conservation plan, improving soils with crop rotation and managing grazing land.
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service program will make $750 million available to farmers and ranchers around the country through September 2020.
The public comment period runs through mid-January.
