Farm producers and landowners have until the end of this week to apply for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency's Grasslands Conservation Reserve Program.

More than 2 million acres of Nebraska land are enrolled in one of three CRP programs. Nearly three-fourths of it in Grassland, which is unique among the CRP programs since the land is allowed to remain productive through grazing or haying.

Zach Ducheneaux, administrator of the Farm Service Agency, called the program "the essence" of the USDA's working lands conservation initiative. He said grazing on CRP land often involves more "hands on" practices.

"That are really aimed at enhancing soil health through the use of livestock in a way that will eventually lead to increased productivity, and producers will see more biodiversity," Ducheneaux explained. "They'll end up seeing better production from the land for their livestock."

Since 1985, landowners have voluntarily taken acres out of production through the Conservation Reserve Programs. They receive a rental payment in return, currently a minimum of around $13 an acre. Environmental benefits include preserving and enhancing the soil, promoting carbon sequestration and protecting wildlife habitat and diversity.

The deadline for 2024 applications is June 28.

Nebraska landowners added more than 400,000 new acres to the program last year, second only to Colorado.

Ducheneaux noted most land suitable for grazing is appropriate for the program, but it must meet an "environmental benefit index" threshold to be accepted. In addition to the rental payment, landowners can receive financial assistance to improve their land.

"They have access to cost-share dollars that can help them do infrastructure development that maybe makes that land a little more productive," Ducheneaux outlined. "Better fencing, pollinator habitat, perhaps water development, if it's needed."

Ducheneaux stressed a great deal of thought goes into the environmental impact of land use; for example, if a landowner plans to use it for haying.

"Since it's a mechanical harvesting in most cases, it can create a vulnerability in some of the bird habitat," Ducheneaux pointed out. "We try to encourage the haying to happen in a certain way, or after the nesting season, which is set on a state level."

Program enrollment has grown considerably during the Biden-Harris administration, which considers it a major tool for countering the effects of climate change.


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In celebration of Pollinators Month, Charlotte is using its Bee City USA designation to emphasize the crucial role pollinators play in our ecosystem.

Partnering with local beekeepers, the city is working to educate the community, enhance habitats and reduce pesticide use.

Victoria Aguilar, assistant city arborist for the City of Charlotte, noted while supporting pollinators is simple, many people are unaware of their importance to everyday life.

"One out of every three bites of food that we eat is pollinated by an insect," Aguilar pointed out. "So you think about all the vegetables that you eat, most of those need insects in order to pollinate in order to create that fruit."

They also aid in plant reproduction and diversity, and include not just bees but also ants, butterflies and hummingbirds.

Charlotte's efforts are part of the Keep Charlotte Beautiful program, with staff and community partners advancing Bee City USA commitments. The committee includes members from the Wildlife Federation and CleanAIRE NC.

Charlotte's celebration includes several events this week. Tonight is Moth Night, and residents can explore nocturnal wildlife with naturalist Lenny Lampel. Tomorrow is Summer Wedding Days, where volunteers can help maintain pollinator-friendly gardens at local schools. Friday evening, a Movie Night will feature a wildlife film, offering more education about pollinators.

In addition to education, Aguilar stressed anyone can contribute to pollinator conservation by creating a space for pollinators.

"There are a lot of native plants that you could use if you want shrubs that you can prune into a nice formal sphere but that also have benefits to the native pollinators, the native insects here," Aguilar suggested. "Or you can go with a meadow where you throw out a wildflower mixed with seeds and see what comes up."


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Some Tennessee school districts are among 41 in the Southeast receiving funding from the Environmental Protection Agency's Clean School Bus rebate program.

Created by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the program invests $5 billion through 2026 to replace older, diesel school buses with cleaner alternatives.

Dory Larsen, senior electric transportation program manager at the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, said the rebate program transforms how school districts transport the state's most precious residents.

"In the United States, transportation and electricity generation are the leading sources of both unhealthy air and also pollutants that cause climate change," Larsen pointed out. "This amount of funding coming to Tennessee is $12 million, coming to several school districts to bring 37 electric school buses."

Larsen noted eight districts got EPA funding to order their electric school buses and charging infrastructure, which is crucial for under-resourced districts. The buses are set to roll out for the 2025 school year. Across the Southeast, more than 300 electric buses will be deployed, part of 3,400 nationwide.

Larsen emphasized kids who ride electric buses to school are getting a healthier trip, since the buses are zero-emission and do not have a tailpipe.

"We know that diesel exhaust exposes children to dangerous pollution that can impact their developing lungs, their well-being," Larsen explained. "Studies have shown that it impacts school attendance and even academic performance."

Larsen added electric school buses have less than half the greenhouse gas emissions of diesel or propane-burning buses, which helps lower the risk of a warming planet.


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The FBI has joined New Mexico's local, state, federal and tribal partners to investigate the cause of two drought-fueled wildfires that have yet to be contained.

The South Fork and Salt fires began within five hours of each other on June 17.

Alan Webber, mayor of Santa Fe, said it is proof more needs to be done about climate change. Webber noted the fires in New Mexico along with equal devastation in the upper Midwest over the weekend from flash flooding. He believes the root cause can be traced to climate change and all communities need to be working on sustainability and improved infrastructure strategies.

"That will contribute to reversing climate change and bringing our natural environment back into balance so we don't see these catastrophes," Webber contended.

New Mexico also experienced flash flooding in the past few days, forcing emergency officials to pivot from fire support to flood rescues. President Joe Biden approved a major disaster declaration for the state last week, making more than $5 million available in additional emergency funds to support relief efforts.

The FBI is asking anyone with information about the fires to call 1-800-CALL-FBI.

Webber joined the 92nd annual U.S. Conference of Mayors meeting last week, where in addition to climate change, he said mayors talked about public safety, the mental health crisis and homelessness. Along with affordable workforce housing, he said homelessness is affecting rural, urban and suburban cities, where different approaches are needed.

"Work on vouchers, work to help get veterans housed in particular," Webber urged. "That's a very vulnerable community. Seniors are increasingly facing homelessness in cities. We have to keep them housed, so I would say this is a national priority."

The recent New Mexico fires come just two years after the Calf Canyon/Hermits Peak Fire burned more than 300,000 acres, becoming the largest fire in New Mexico history.


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