National Rural Water Association (NRWA)’s Post

With changes in agricultural support and increasing input costs affecting profitability, it is crucial for farmers to plan and adjust for the future. In the past year and a half, we have assisted numerous farmers in England in transitioning away from the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) and exploring ways to modify their operations through the Future Farming Resilience Fund (FFRF). Supported by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) with a funding commitment of £32 million, the FFRF provides farmers with free advice to help them plan for the future. Whether you are looking to repurpose farm buildings, develop a solid business plan, or learn about income opportunities from new government grants and funding schemes, now is the ideal time to take advantage of available support.

In a significant development, the USDA's Rural Business-Cooperative Service is poised to introduce a pivotal rule proposal in mid-2024, aimed at codifying the policies and procedures for the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program. This initiative, as revealed by information from the White House Office of Management and Budget, holds the potential to provide a structured framework for producers and stakeholders participating in the program. #engineering #sustainability #engineer #fuelefficiency

This is a promising development towards achieving SDG 6. "The intention is to work on water and sanitation not as another sector in a silo, but as one United Nations system, acting holistically to address the interrelated cross-sectoral aspects of water and sanitation as a driver for sustainable development, human rights and peace. 9 The scope of this SWS encompasses all freshwater-related matters, including sanitation. It includes surface water and groundwater resources, the interface between freshwater and seawater, and freshwater resources in terms of quality and quantity, development, assessment, sustainable management, monitoring and use (including, for example, domestic uses, agriculture and the interface with soil, and ecosystem requirements). It also includes the sanitation cycle (access to and use of sanitation by populations, the interactions between sanitation and freshwater, and the safe treatment of waste for reuse, including circular economy aspects), disaster risk, emergencies, and climate-related water and sanitation challenges."

Rep. Cuellar and the Department of Agriculture Announces $28,945,000 in Federal Funds for Union Water Supply Corporation in Starr County, Texas   Today, Congressman Henry Cuellar, Ph.D. (TX-28) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced $28,945,000 in federal funding for Union Water Supply Corporation in Starr County. “As Starr County grows, so does its need for proper water infrastructure. Today’s award will increase Union Water Supply Corporation’s capacity for water treatment for many years to come, ensuring access to water in our community,” said Dr. Cuellar, a Senior Member of the House Appropriations Committee. The funds, administered by the USDA’s Rural Utilities Service (RUS), will be used to rehabilitate and expand Union Water Supply Corporation’s existing water treatment plant. This will add 2.5 million gallons (MGD) capacity for a total capacity of 4.0 MGD, increase clear well capacity to 0.8 MGD, and include river station rehabilitation and distribution system upgrades.   “Union Water Supply Corporation has taken a proactive step to ensure that essential services such as this wastewater plant expansion project will be available for residents both now and in the future. USDA Rural Development is proud to provide this grant and loan combination to assure folks in Starr County receive the same type of services as their counterparts in urban areas of Texas,” said Lillian Salerno, USDA Rural Development State Director for Texas.   Read the Full Article: https://lnkd.in/dnT53pW2   Learn about ChlorTainer’s use in the State of Texas: https://lnkd.in/dP-7D_Vd Follower #ChlorTainer for more Water Industry & Chemical Industry content.   #WaterIndustry #WaterCrisis #Sustainable #WaterTreatment #Funding 

Fully support this. At least 6 years is needed to attract investment back into the sector.

Defra Secretary of State, Steve Barclay speaking at todays Farmers Weekly Transition Live event near Cambridge. Key highlights included; 💧 Defra acutely aware of flooding & 2nd wettest winter on record. 💰 Moved quickly via Farm Recovery Fund to support those worst affected. 🤝 Flexibility and derogations to be offered under SFI (details to be released at Farm to Fork Summit). 💦 Farm Recovery Fund to be extended by end of May. 🌾 Food security is national security. Funding must be re-focused to ensure food production remains a priority. 📈 20,000 SFI applications make it Defra’s most successful scheme… 🌳 Perception that SFI was taking land out of production led to the 25% cap (despite the stats not supporting this claim). 📑 Defra working on reducing red tape via single application for CS & SFI (watch this space).

🌟 Exciting News for #Nevada: The USDA is Investing in Tribal Communities for a Brighter Future🌱 🚰 🖥   USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced groundbreaking investments aimed at providing clean drinking water, sanitary wastewater systems, and affordable high-speed internet to Tribal communities across the nation. Today's funding includes support for the Yomba Shoshone Tribe in Nevada, part of USDA's Rural Partners Network.   At the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development’s Reservation Economic Summit (RES) in Las Vegas, Nevada, Secretary Vilsack emphasized USDA's commitment to Tribal economic development and removing barriers for Tribal nations. This investment, totaling $58 million in Nevada, Oklahoma, and South Dakota, will fuel economic growth, high-speed internet deployment, and modern infrastructure.   These initiatives align with President Biden’s #InvestingInAmerica agenda, focusing on economic growth, job creation, and equitable access to resources. Under the Biden-Harris Administration, $1.1 billion has been awarded through the ReConnect program to 57 Tribal communities. USDA's Rural Partners Network (RPN), launched in April 2022, serves as a catalyst for economic development projects in rural communities. Through partnerships and community liaisons, RPN facilitates access to government funding resources, driving job creation and infrastructure improvements. These investments are made possible by USDA Rural Development programs, including the Water and Waste Facility Loans and Grants to Alleviate Health Risks on Tribal Lands and the ReConnect Program. These programs aim to provide safe drinking water, waste disposal services, and high-speed internet access to underserved communities, fostering economic resilience and prosperity.   For more information, or to stay updated on USDA's initiatives and investments, visit USDA's website: https://www.usda.gov   Together, let's build a brighter future for all communities, ensuring equitable access to essential resources and opportunities. 🌎✨ #USDA #TribalCommunities #EconomicDevelopment #grantopportunities #tribalgovernments

Changes to agricultural support, together with pressures on profitability from rising input costs, mean it’s more important than ever for farmers to plan and adapt for the future. Over the last 18 months we’ve helped hundreds of farmers across England navigate the transition away from the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) and identify options to modify their businesses, through the Future Farming Resilience Fund (FFRF). The FFRF offers farmers free advice to help them to plan for the future, backed by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), which has committed £32 million to provide the support. Whether it’s some redundant farm buildings you want to turn into a business, help to create a robust business plan or guidance around the income opportunities available via the new government-backed grant and funding schemes, now is the perfect time to make the most of the support available and give your farming business a health check.

We turn on the tap, water flows.     For those outside the water industry, there’s a lot more to this than meets the eye.     Water policy took centre stage at the recent lunch event organised by the Rural Press Club of Queensland. Since 2020, the federal government’s push to deliver on the Basin Plan has significantly impacted the local agricultural landscape.     Our Executive Director, Mark Steinhardt attended the event and emerged with some key takeaways that highlight the current challenges and opportunities:    💧 It's a balancing act: Water is a finite (and some would say diminishing) resource, and stakeholders from all sides have competing interests. Finding a solution that works for everyone is no easy feat.    💧Market currents are shifting: The good news is, the water market is evolving! This creates opportunities for buyers and sellers. Landowners can now tap into new ways to monetise their assets and manage cash flow volatility.  💧M&A is likely to play a role: With increasing opportunities to monetise water assets and a need for innovation, capital markets will play an important role in addressing the needs of the industry.    InterFinancial has worked with a number of clients in the water services, food and agricultural industries. If you’re interested to understand more, please reach out to Mark Steinhardt.     Special thanks to the Rural Press Club of Queensland for hosting this event and our clients from Hall & Wilcox, Agrimix, McMahon Clarke, Osmoflo, Concept Tanks, BeneTerra, Brent Finlay from Finlay Agricultural Industries, and Chris Hood from Watco East West.   #AchieveMore #Waterpolicy #Agribusiness 

Changes to agricultural support, together with pressures on profitability from rising input costs, mean it’s more important than ever for farmers to plan and adapt for the future. Over the last 18 months we’ve helped hundreds of farmers across England navigate the transition away from the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) and identify options to modify their businesses, through the Future Farming Resilience Fund (FFRF). The FFRF offers farmers free advice to help them to plan for the future, backed by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), which has committed £32 million to provide the support. Whether it’s some redundant farm buildings you want to turn into a business, help to create a robust business plan or guidance around the income opportunities available via the new government-backed grant and funding schemes, now is the perfect time to make the most of the support available and give your farming business a health check.