Farmers, ranchers paid for conservation
Beginning Sept. 1, farmers and ranchers can apply for financial assistance to help conserve working grasslands, rangeland and pastureland while maintaining the areas as livestock grazing lands.
The initiative is part of the voluntary Conservation Reserve Program, a federally funded program that for 30 years has assisted agricultural producers with the cost of restoring, enhancing and protecting certain grasses, shrubs and trees to improve water quality, prevent soil erosion and reduce loss of wildlife habitat. The U.S. Department of Agriculture provides participants with rental payments and cost-share assistance.
The initiative will provide participants who establish long-term, resource-conserving covers with annual rental payments up to 75 percent of the grazing value of the land. Cost-share assistance also is available for up to 50 percent of the covers and other practices, such as cross fencing to support rotational grazing or improving pasture cover to benefit pollinators or other wildlife. Participants may still conduct common grazing practices, produce hay, mow, harvest for seed production, conduct fire rehabilitation, and construct firebreaks and fences.
Applications will be accepted beginning Sept. 1. The ranking period will occur at least once per year and be announced at least 30 days before its start. The end of the first ranking period will be Nov. 20.
For more information, visit www.fsa.usda.gov/crp or consult with the local Farm Service Agency county office.
To locate an agency office, visit http://offices.usda.gov.
Nature Studies invites families to workshop
Durango Nature Studies will host a Family Nature Workshop from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday at the Nature Center.
The cost is $10 per family for nonmembers and free for members.
This program is designed for families with children 5 to 10 years old. Families will learn how to engage them in nature and enjoy time together as a family.
Workshop participants will receive free entry to the Nature Center, which is open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
To register, email sally@durangonaturestudies.org; call 769-1800; or visit www.durangonaturestudies.org/wildwords.htm.
Hunting licenses are on sale now
Colorado Parks and Wildlife suspended sales of over-the-counter licenses until July 21 to ensure an equitable and fair application process.
The vendor, Active Network, had technical difficulties, and sales were halted until the issue was resolved and the system was fully operational.
The current licensing system is more than 10 years old and efforts are underway to build a more robust system to handle growing demand.
Thousands of over-the-counter-with-cap licenses for bear hunting are available. Customers should refer to the 2015 Big Game Brochure for season participation requirements.
Unlimited over-the-counter license sales at Parks & Wildlife offices will continue from now until the start of the selected season and after the season begins.
For more information, visit http://cpw.state.co.us/thingstodo/Pages/BigGame.aspx or call (800) 244-5613.
Herald Staff
