Sign Up Open for USDA Climate-Smart Ag & Forestry Conservation Programs in Rhode Island

Nov 27, 2024

USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Rhode Island has funding to help Ocean State farmers and forest landowners implement Climate-Smart Agriculture and Forestry Mitigation Activities through our Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP). This Inflation Reduction Act funding is our largest climate and conservation investment in history!

Climate-smart conservation practices and activities can provide our customers with significant benefits, including improved forest & soil health, water quality, pollinator and wildlife habitat and air quality; wildfire mitigation; reduced greenhouse gas emissions and increased carbon sequestration, in addition to financial benefits.

We offer a variety of practices like cover crops, tree planting, composting facilities, pasture & hay planting, wildlife habitat planting, efficient irrigation systems and more! Applications will be accepted until January 10, 2025, for the second round of fiscal year 2025 funding. Call your local NRCS Field Office or Conservation District Office for more information.

Source : usda.gov

Video: Understanding the Basics of the Renewable Fuel Standard

On Friday, April 24, 2026, from 12 noon–1:00 ET, the Penn State Center for Agricultural and Shale Law, alongside the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture’s (PDA) Agricultural Business Development Center (ABDC), presented this webinar in the Understanding Agricultural Law Educational Series, a course designed to develop subject matter literacy and competence on fundamental issues of agricultural law for attorneys and business advisors who work with or represent agricultural or rural clients but may not necessarily specialize in agricultural law:

“Understanding the Basics of the Renewable Fuel Standard”

The Clean Air Act’s Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program requires transportation fuel sold in the United States to contain a minimum volume of renewable fuels such as ethanol, biodiesel, or advanced biofuels. Established by the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and later expanded by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, the RFS is implemented by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in collaboration with the Department of Energy and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

This webinar provides an overview of the legal authority and structure for the RFS program and explain how it works, including the program’s system of Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs) and categories of renewable fuels. Additionally, this webinar addresses EPA annual volume requirement rulemaking and associated recent legal issues.