News

Improving water quality in the Mississippi River Basin

The USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is investing $30 million to improve water quality in the Mississippi River Basin.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says 33 new projects and 40 existing projects will receive funding through the Mississippi River Basin Healthy Watershed Initiative (MRBI), to reduce the loss of nutrients and sediment to waters that flow into the Gulf of Mexico.

Chief Jason Weller says NRCS is investing $30 million dollars a year over the next three years, as part of a $100 million commitment from the 2014 Farm Bill.

“We work collaboratively with our partners at the state and local level,” Weller said. “We are trying to make targeted, focused investments using private lands voluntary conservation to help farmers and ranchers better manage their natural resources.”

For a list of the projects receiving MRBI funding, go here.