CHESTERVILLE — Each year individuals, foresters, farmers, community members and other eligible landowners are tasked with the job of identifying priority areas of concern in each district (county).

Next, the areas of concern are prioritized as to how U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) funding will be assigned to do work to help alleviate the problems. Allocation of local funds for the implementation of conservation programs under the 2014 Farm Bill will come from these decisions.

The USDA-NRCS Farm Bill is a voluntary conservation program designed to benefit both agricultural producers and the environment. Funding goes toward helping to increase productivity and land value, maintaining and improving conservation systems, as well as taking on additional measures to address priority resource concerns about soil, water and air quality. It also limits nonagricultural use of protected lands. 

Agricultural producers, private woodland owners, members of an environmental or watershed organization or land trust, knowledgeable in soil, water, plant, wetland or wildlife sciences and/or familiar with agricultural and natural resource concerns in Franklin County are asked to register if attending the meeting.

The session will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, Dec. 11, at the Chesterville Town Office, 409 Dutch Gap Road. Questions or reservations must be made by Thursday, Dec. 7.

FMI: 207-778-4767, ext. 105; [email protected].