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Implementing the Tri-State RCPP

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded $17.5 million to the Tri-State Western Lake Erie Phosphorus Reduction Initiative. The funding is part of the USDA’s Regional Conservation Partnership Program established in the 2014 Farm Bill.

Terry Cosby, State Conservationist in Ohio says the next step will be for Ohio, Indiana and Michigan to sit down and put the program together.

“And then we start talking about implementation,” said Cosby. “That will be the big part of this over the next five years, this is a five year project.”

Audio: Terry Cosby, State Conservationist, Ohio

Steve Shine with the Michigan Department of Agricultural and Rural Development says once the agreement is in place and everyone understands what they’re working with when it comes to the financial assistance for growers, it will then be up to the three states to monitor the progress.

“We have a plan for that and will begin to unroll that plan and get it to go because when the growing season starts we want to be ready.”

Shine says local Conservation District offices will be where farmers or landowners can get more information about the Regional Conservation Partnership Program.

Audio: Steve Shine, Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development