USDA offers $20 million for California water conservation

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is backing water conservation efforts in drought-stricken California with $20 million in new funding. Its Natural Resources Conservation Service is making the funds available to growers and ranchers who apply by March 3 through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program. “The conservation resources are basically a grant to assist producers,” USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack said in a Feb. 4 conference call with reporters. “It’ll be focused on improving irrigation efficiency, providing resources to stabilize fallow ground that can’t be farmed and to assist with watering facilities and grazing distribution.” Read More