Natural Resources Conservation Service August 16, 2024 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) requests public input for USDA to use all available tools to support climate- smart agriculture and forestry and advance conservation priorities on working lands. The Sponsoring USDA Sustainability Targets in Agriculture to Incentivize Natural Solutions Act of 2021 (the SUSTAINS Act) was signed into law as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023. The SUSTAINS Act expands USDA's authority to accept contributions of private funds to support existing conservation programs and provides additional guidelines for those contributions. Specifically, the SUSTAINS Act provides an opportunity for the private sector to partner with USDA in engaging farmers and ranchers in conservation initiatives, including expanding conservation practices to sequester carbon, improve wildlife habitat, protect sources of drinking water, and address other natural resource priorities.