Local Work Group meeting slated for NRCS funding

    The Southern Aroostook Soil and Water Conservation Service (SASWCD) and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will be holding a Local Work Group (LWG) meeting Thursday, Feb. 26 from 3 to 5 p.m. at the USDA Service Center in Houlton. An important change in the 2008 Farm Bill concerning LWG’s includes input from the public, along with other state, federal and local government representatives, FSA county committee members, tribal representatives, Cooperative Extension, etc. 
    The Local Work Group meeting is important because it provides NRCS with input on how to allocate resource funds for their Environmental Quality Incentives Program. For example, 60 percent of the federal program funds may be allocated to cropland, 20 percent to forestry and wildlife and the remainder to livestock waste applications. The LWG can also identify local priorities and add points to the ranking process that gives higher priority to those projects. For example, the LWG may decide to make beginning farmers a priority and additional points would be added to the final ranking sheet that would help those priorities realize funding.
    The District is requesting pre-registration for the Feb. 26 meeting. Those interested in attending the LWG meeting may call SASWCD at 532-9407, ext. 3 to register or to receive additional information. The USDA Service Center is located at 304 North St, Houlton. If you plan to attend this meeting and require special accommodations, please let the district know.