USDA is releasing loans and grants for agricultural producers and rural small businesses across the country to implement renewable energy and energy efficiency measures in their operations. Collectively, these REAP-funded projects and those announced earlier are expected to lower energy usage by 2-billion kilowatts and prevent nearly 2-million metric tons of emissions from being released into the environment. These federal dollars are leveraged with other funding sources for the projects.

Under Secretary for Rural Development Dallas Tonsager says that in Fiscal Year 2011, USDA Rural Development provided a total of 23.2-million dollars for energy efficiency projects, 20.9-million for biodigesters, 20.3-million for solar energy projects, 8.2-million for hydroelectric systems, 7-million for biomass energy projects, 4.28-million for flexible fuel pump projects, 3.9-million for wind energy projects, and 1.4-million for geothermal installations.

As a example of the energy efficiencies expected, one recipient, Wilford Hayden in Lowell, Indiana, is expected to save almost 1.4-million kilowatt hours when he replaces a grain dryer with a more efficient one. And, K and K Farms, in Stuart, Iowa, has been selected to receive a $10,737 grant to help purchase a new grain drying system that is expected to reduce annual energy costs by more than 57 percent.

During a hearing Wednesday, representatives of the U.S. biodiesel industry urged the Senate to pass a seamless extension of the biodiesel tax incentive to avoid putting thousands of jobs at risk. Anne Steckel, vice president of federal affairs at the National Biodiesel Board, said – this tax incentive is a job creator, and Congress will be putting jobs in jeopardy if it adjourns without passing an extension.

Steckel pointed out that – our industry’s numbers speak for themselves. We’re on track to nearly triple our production from last year, and that translates directly into jobs and productivity. Cardno ENTRIX, an international economics consulting firm, reports that the increased production will support more than 31-thousand jobs this year while generating at least 3-billion dollars in Gross Domestic Product and 628-million in federal, state and local tax revenues.

The one-dollar per-gallon biodiesel tax credit is slated to expire on December 31. Bipartisan legislation has been introduced in the House and Senate to extend it for three years. Wednesday’s hearing on alternative energy tax incentives was held by the Senate Finance Committee’s Subcommittee on Energy, Natural Resources, and Infrastructure.

Russian minister of agriculture Yelena Skrynnik says Russia’s WTO accession opens new opportunities for expansion of U.S.-Russia cooperation. Speaking in Omaha, Nebraska, Skrynnik noted that the United States is one of the leading agriculture partners of Russia, and specific business proposals from America bringing much-needed investment, and modern, “green” and efficient technologies.

Already, PepsiCo, John Deere and Cargill are being introduced to the Russian agriculture market. Skrynnik says – the fact these companies seek to expand their business in Russia serves as evidence that the industry’s investment climate is becoming more attractive.

Russian Ministry of Agriculture has adopted a steep course on integrating much-needed innovative, eco-friendly, high-efficiency technologies into the sector throughout the year of 2020.

Proper management of nitrogen and phosphorus, including the use of organic sources of nitrogen such as animal manure, legumes and cover crops, can save producers money. USDA has revised its national conservation practice standard on nutrient management to help producers better manage the application of those nutrients on agricultural land. The nutrient management standard provides a roadmap for NRCS’s staff and others to help producers apply available nutrient sources in the right amount, from the right source, in the right place, at the right time for maximum agricultural and environmental benefits.

Key changes in the standard include expanding the use of technology to streamline the nutrient management process and allowing states more flexibility in providing site-specific nutrient management planning using local information when working with producers. NRCS staff offices will have until January 1, 2013 to comply with erosion, nitrogen and phosphorus criteria for their state nutrient management standard.

The revised national standard is being released in support of three recently released Conservation Effects Assessment Project cropland studies. These CEAP studies assessed the effectiveness of conservation practices in the Upper Mississippi Basin, the Chesapeake Bay Watershed and the Great Lakes Basin. One significant resource concern identified in all three studies is the loss of nitrogen and phosphorus from cropland.

The Gulf Coast Ecosystem Task Force has released its final strategy for long-term ecosystem restoration for the Gulf Coast. The new Gulf of Mexico Initiative will focus up to 50-million dollars, over three years, in conservation assistance to farmers and ranchers in priority areas along seven major rivers that drain to the Gulf.  The effort includes all five states along the Gulf Coast—Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. 

National Association of Conservation Districts President Gene Schmidt says, – we’re excited to be a part of this locally-led, cooperative effort to bring cleaner water, more abundant wildlife, and healthier fisheries to Gulf Coast communities. The Gulf hosts a diverse array of habitats from coral reefs and hyper-saline lagoons to emergent wetlands and vast sea grass meadows. In fact, more than 50 percent of the United States’ coastal wetlands, approximately 5-million acres, are found adjacent to the Gulf.

Conservation districts have always believed that in order to make a lasting impact for conservation on the ground, it’s critical to engage farmers, ranchers, landowners and other local leaders throughout the conservation delivery system. By using this approach in the Gulf Coast, Schmidt says, – I’m confident that we’ll see measurable, long-term improvements in the region.