Federal help for farmers and landowners

Thursday, September 2, 2010

MILFORD – Agriculture or forest landowners in New Hampshire interested in protecting, conserving or restoring the natural resources on their property through technical or financial assistance, or through a conservation easement, can contact their local USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service office to begin the conservation planning process.

For an application to be considered for funding, landowners/operators must submit a complete application and have cleared all eligibility requirements to be considered in this round of ranking. Applications should be in by Sept. 30 to be considered in the Oct. 29 ranking cut off.

Eligible lands include privately-owned agricultural land, grasslands, non-industrial forest lands, freshwater wetlands and salt marshes, coastal habitats and rivers and streams.

NRCS has an office in Milford that works with local conservation districts and other partners to serve farmers and landowners throughout the state. For more information, call 673-2409.

General program information is available on the NRCS New Hampshire website at www.nh.nrcs.usda.gov.