The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has extended until January 15, 2016, the deadline to apply for financial assistance to address critical natural resource concerns in seven Missouri watershed areas. The watershed areas are included in the Mississippi River Basin Healthy Watersheds Initiative (MRBI).
The seven Missouri MRBI watersheds are: James Bayou – St. John’s Diversion Ditch and Mud Ditch (Mississippi and New Madrid Counties); Upper Buffalo Creek Ditch (Dunklin County); Bear Creek – West Yellow Creek (Linn County); Peno Creek and Spencer Creek (Ralls and Pike counties); Sugar Creek and Mission Creek – Missouri River (Buchanan and Platte counties); North River – (Marion, Ralls, Monroe and Shelby counties); Profits Creek – (Osage, Cole, Maries and Miller counties). This is the first year that landowners in North River Watershed and Profits Creek Watershed are available for assistance through MRBI.
Conservation practices offered through MRBI focus on the avoidance of access nutrients and sediment movement occurring on land in the priority watershed areas. The core activities, such as cover crops, increased crop rotations, decreased tillage, precision nutrient application and exclusion fencing, will strengthen soil health, reduce erosion and lessen nutrient runoff.
To learn more about MRBI, landowners can contact their local NRCS offices, or look under the contact us section of the Missouri NRCS website.
