The Warren County Soil and Water Conservation District pushing for more state and federal funding as local farmers compete for money to improve soil and water quality.
District Office Manager Neil Walker said the district helps landowners cover the costs of conservation projects through reimbursement programs. A local working group recently met to identify the county’s agricultural needs and recommend funding priorities.
“Their main focus is more toward doing cover crops in the row crops and nursery and doing more grazing projects for the cattle farmers and the sheep farmers, people that’s raising livestock,” Walker said.
Walker said the district relies on two federal programs, the Environmental Quality Incentives Program and the Conservation Stewardship Program, administered through the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. Both provide financial assistance for agricultural conservation practices.
“In the last year or two, those funds have been really hard to get, so it’s all done on a application and a ranking basis, so you rank against people in other counties,” Walker said.
Walker said the district also administers Tennessee’s Agricultural Resources Conservation Fund, which helps landowners reduce pollution entering waterways. The county’s nursery industry presents additional challenges because fewer conservation practices qualify for assistance.
“That funds several hundred thousand dollars a year, usually, in Warren County, but we’re not always guaranteed that,” Walker said.
Walker said the district is exploring additional buffer strips and cover crops for nursery operations. Recommendations from local producers will be forwarded to regional officials in Cookeville and state officials in Nashville.
“NRCS is always the one who makes the final decision on what kind of programs are offered in each county,” Walker said. “We just hope that Warren County’s able to get more contracts funded this coming year.”