USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service

Watershed conservation benefits everyone but the hard work is often performed by only a few. Since 1944, NRCS has delivered solutions through the Watershed Protection Program that help local communities address flooding, water quality, nutrient management, erosion, and other needs across the watershed. According to Jack Kuhn, “At the end of the day, we helped people get their lives back together again – and that’s what it’s all about.” Watch Jack's episode of the Legends docuseries: https://lnkd.in/gCUv-TPy

This 523-acre Wetland Reserve Easement in North Dakota is a prime example of how our programs can benefit both the environment and the community. “We have a lot of variety of grasses and native flowers, which the birds, bees, and butterflies love,” said landowner Paula Ramsey. “NRCS was able to help us with the program, and we are still able to maintain the land for future generations.” Photo: USDA NRCS North Dakota.

We know USAJobs can be a real bear to tackle. (Note: tackling bears isn’t recommended, but working for us is.) Use saved searches that email you relevant job listings based on your settings. Learn how to create an account and set up searches at USAjobs.gov Photo: Kootznoowoo Wilderness, Admiralty Island, Tongass National Forest, Alaska. By Don MacDougall, Forest Service.

This summer, the Conservation Practice Adoption Motivations Survey (CPAMS), a joint project between USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) and NRCS, will be mailed to 43,000 forest and grazing landowners and managers across the Nation. The CPAMS gathers information to understand why people choose to use different conservation practices and will help improve voluntary conservation programs. NASS will mail an invitation to respond early online at agcounts.usda.gov starting June 24. Responses are confidential and used for statistical purposes only. No single respondent can be identified from the published data. Previous CPAMS data are available on the Highlights page of the NASS website. For more information, visit nass.usda.gov/go/CPAMS.

If you work in the ag science world for an institution that's part of the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, don't forget that you've got two weeks left to apply for $3M in grant funds to support cooperative research in soil science and soil survey: https://lnkd.in/gVmpCFHf

We have a $3M funding opportunity for higher education institutions in the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit network to promote and fund research that informs and improves soil surveys at the national level. The grants awarded will support the use of climate-smart management and sound science to enhance the health and productivity of agricultural lands. Our deadline is July 8. Each proposal must include significant cooperation with soil survey personnel, such as the National Soil Survey Center research staff or Major Land Resource Area soil survey or regional offices. The proposal’s deliverables and their connection to soil survey must be clearly explained. The work should have national or broad regional application to fill gaps in soil survey databases, provide new approaches to collecting or interpreting soil survey data, and/or address emerging issues in the national research priority areas. The period of performance could begin as early as October 2024 and could extend up to three years and must have a total cost between $50,000 and $500,000.   Get more details and apply: https://lnkd.in/gVmpCFHf

If "helping people help the land" in the face of a changing climate resonates with you and what you want to do in your career, then get your resume and your USAjobs account ready right now, because it’s time to apply to a job with us! We have three fully-remote jobs open now through end of day this Friday, June 14 for Climate Change Fellows, two at the GS-12 level and one at the GS-13 level. You’ll support the implementation of our climate strategy, helping us to better understand and measure the climate impacts of conservation and management practices, as well as improving carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas estimations. Take a look at the job description and make sure your resume includes: 1) personal information such as name, address, contact information; 2) education; 3) detailed work experience related to this position as described in the major duties including work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment; title, series, grade (if applicable); 4) other qualifications.    GS-12 vacancy: https://lnkd.in/gE5qvG4m   GS-13 vacancy: https://lnkd.in/gBvg-X5H  

Yesterday, we partnered with Equality USDA, the LGBTQI employee resource group, to celebrate Pride Month by planting flowers in rainbow colors at the USDA Headquarters People’s Garden. Volunteers planted celosia, calendula, lobelia, salvia, and dahlia, and also harvested and donated greens to the DC Central Kitchen. If you’re in the area, come by to see our rainbow garden bed bloom! 🌻

This year we're investing $50 million in protecting, restoring and enhancing critical wetlands on agricultural lands, prioritizing areas that are in or that are anticipated to benefit disadvantaged communities. Targeting our investments like this for our Wetland Reserve Enhancement Program is one of the many ways we're working to advance equity and environmental justice in the delivery of our conservation programs and mitigate the impacts of climate change. 📸: wetlands in Texas and Missouri, photos by USDA.

A SAM.gov account is required for groups and business to apply for some of our programs, like the Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production Grants or the Cooperative Agreements for Composting and Food Waste Reduction. If you're new to SAM.gov, join this webinar next Wednesday morning presented by the Agricultural Marketing Service and General Services Administration: https://lnkd.in/g5sAYVz7 📸: USDA.