Rice producers in 20 Louisiana parishes have a second opportunity to apply for funding from the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) – Rice Stewardship Partnership Project sponsored by USA Rice and Ducks Unlimited. The deadline for applications is March 2, 2016.
“Interested rice producers need to visit their local NRCS office as soon as possible,” said Kevin Norton, state conservationist for Louisiana. “This partnership between USA Rice, Ducks Unlimited and NRCS is providing a great opportunity for rice producers to address water quantity and quality, as well as wildlife habitat on their farm.”
The RCPP program will assist rice producers that voluntarily implement conservation and management practices to improve irrigation water management, control sediment and nutrient runoff and provide waterfowl habitat on rice production lands. The main goal is to reduce groundwater demand from aquifers to ensure sustainability of the water source for future rice production.
Eligible areas for this special funding opportunity include: Acadia, Allen, Avoyelles, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, Catahoula, Concordia, East Carroll, Evangeline, Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, Madison, Morehouse, Rapides, Richland, St. Landry, St. Martin, Vermilion and West Carroll parishes.
Funding for this project will be available to rice producers through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). Producers should visit their local USDA service center before the March 2, 2016 deadline to apply for this opportunity.
Ducks Unlimited Inc. is the world’s largest non-profit organization dedicated to conserving North America’s continually disappearing waterfowl habitats. Established in 1937, Ducks Unlimited has conserved more than 13 million acres thanks to contributions from more than a million supporters across the continent. Guided by science and dedicated to program efficiency, DU works toward the vision of wetlands sufficient to fill the skies with waterfowl today, tomorrow and forever. For more information on our work, visit www.ducks.org. Connect with us on our Facebook page at facebook.com/DucksUnlimited, follow our tweets at twitter.com/DucksUnlimited and watch DU videos at youtube.com/DucksUnlimitedInc.