USDA Seeks Public Comment on climate-smart agriculture and forestry strategy

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) is seeking input from conservation groups, farmers, forest owners, and others on climate-smart agriculture and forestry strategy through an executive order that could impact many USDA programs, including the programs that support Delaware River Watershed Initiative (DRWI) projects and other water quality work. 

The American Littoral Society is a partner in the DRWI, which unites more than fifty organizations and countless landowners working to protect forests and farms, clean up streams, and make our cities and suburbs greener. From the New Jersey Highlands to the Pine Barrens, Pennsylvania farm country to Philadelphia and the bay, the Delaware River Watershed Initiative is bringing people together to ensure swimmable, fishable, drinkable water for years to come.

Comments are open until April 29. Click here for more information.

Background:
On January 27, 2021, President Biden issued an Executive Order on Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad. This Executive Order laid out a series of actions for Federal Agencies to take regarding climate change mitigation and resilience, including directing the Secretary of Agriculture to collect stakeholder input on a climate-smart agriculture and forestry strategy.

As part of this process, the USDA is seeking input from the public to ensure that relevant information is considered. Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time April 29, 2021.

Comments may be submitted online via the Federal eRulemaking Portal. Go to http://www.regulations.gov and search for the Docket No. USDA-2021-0003. Follow the online instructions for submitting comments. All comments received will be posted without change and publicly available on www.regulations.gov.
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For further information contact William Hohenstein, Director, USDA Office of Energy and Environmental Policy, Phone: 202-720-0450; Email: [email protected].

To learn more about the DRWI and its work, go to https://4states1source.org/.