ABA Banking Journal
No Result
View All Result
  • Topics
    • Ag Banking
    • Commercial Lending
    • Community Banking
    • Compliance and Risk
    • Cybersecurity
    • Economy
    • Human Resources
    • Insurance
    • Legal
    • Mortgage
    • Mutual Funds
    • Payments
    • Policy
    • Retail and Marketing
    • Tax and Accounting
    • Technology
    • Wealth Management
  • Newsbytes
  • Podcasts
  • Magazine
    • Subscribe
    • Advertise
    • Magazine Archive
    • Newsletter Archive
    • Podcast Archive
    • Sponsored Content Archive
SUBSCRIBE
ABA Banking Journal
  • Topics
    • Ag Banking
    • Commercial Lending
    • Community Banking
    • Compliance and Risk
    • Cybersecurity
    • Economy
    • Human Resources
    • Insurance
    • Legal
    • Mortgage
    • Mutual Funds
    • Payments
    • Policy
    • Retail and Marketing
    • Tax and Accounting
    • Technology
    • Wealth Management
  • Newsbytes
  • Podcasts
  • Magazine
    • Subscribe
    • Advertise
    • Magazine Archive
    • Newsletter Archive
    • Podcast Archive
    • Sponsored Content Archive
No Result
View All Result
No Result
View All Result
ADVERTISEMENT
Home Ag Banking

Bipartisan legislation aims to help with farm conservation efforts

May 3, 2023
Reading Time: 2 mins read
Bipartisan legislation aims to help with farm conservation efforts

Bipartisan legislation was introduced today to address the shortage of technical service providers who help producers access USDA conservation programs through one-on-one assistance. The Increased TSP Access Act of 2023 expands on the framework from the 2018 Farm Bill.

“Our nation’s farmers and ranchers play a critical role in conservation, so it is important that they have access to Technical Service Providers (TSPs) who help fill the gaps in technical assistance when it comes to implementing conservation programs. I’m proud to lead this legislation that will streamline the TSP certification process to support our producers and improve conservation outcomes,” said Sen. Mike Braun (R-Indiana), one of the Senate sponsors.

“Crippling red tape and understaffing at the Natural Resources Conservation Services make [conservation] programs too rigid and time-consuming” many farmers to apply to, said Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colorado). “The future of rural America depends on whether the next generation decides to continue their family farms and ranches. The Increased TSP Access Act makes assistance more accessible and helps conservation programs live up to their potential.”

Earlier this year, Terry Cosby, head of the NRCS projected the agency would need to hire between 3,000 and 4,000 employees over the next two years to implement USDA conservation programs. In 2022, however, USDA was only given authority to hire 1,500 new employees and the agency retained 500.

The bill directs USDA to establish a process to approve non-Federal certifying entities, ensuring that USDA’s process will allow agricultural retailers, conservation organizations, cooperatives, professional societies, and service providers to become certifying entities. It also puts clear deadlines on USDA to ensure that the agency is responsive in administering the program.

The bill calls for the USDA to establish a streamlined certification process for TSPs who hold appropriate specialty certifications (including certified crop advisors). This guarantees that applicants with other certifications aren’t burdened with duplicative training, but are still trained in the competencies needed to serve as a TSP.

The bill also calls for TSPs—who are often paid using conservation program dollars—to be paid the fair market rate for their services.

“[The TSP Access Act] would expand the number of partners that farmers and ranchers can depend upon to access conservation programs and help implement additional stewardship practices on the land,” said American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall.

ADVERTISEMENT
Tags: Farm bankingRural bankingUSDA
ShareTweetPin

Related Posts

Budget bill narrowly passes Senate, moves back to House

Breaking down the bank-related provisions in the big budget bill

ABA Banking Journal Podcast
July 10, 2025

Following the enactment of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, hear from ABA experts on how key ABA-supported provisions on tax policy, rural real estate and health savings accounts in the budget reconciliation law will affect banks.

ABA, associations urge lawmakers to finalize deal on debt ceiling

Updated: President signs ‘big beautiful bill’ including numerous ABA-backed provisions

Ag Banking
July 3, 2025

Included in the bill were several ABA-supported tax provisions related to banks, including a modified version of the ABA-advocated ACRE Act and the permanent extension of the Section 199A pass-through deduction rate of 20%.

Navigating Disruption in Ag Lending – Why Tariffs Are Just the Tip of the Iceberg

Navigating Disruption in Ag Lending – Why Tariffs Are Just the Tip of the Iceberg

Ag Banking
July 1, 2025

SPONSORED CONTENT PRESENTED BY MOODY'S The pace of change facing today’s agricultural lenders is unlike anything we’ve seen before. The speed of disruption is accelerating, making it harder for financial institutions to rely on traditional strategies alone. Lenders,...

ABA comments on proposal to improve accounting in tax credit structures

Senate tax measure contains provisions on ACRE, pass-through business deduction

Ag Banking
June 17, 2025

The Senate Finance Committee released its reconciliation tax text that contains several differences from the version passed by the House, including changes to provisions related to the ACRE Act and the Section 199A passthrough business deduction.

Prologue and Predictions: 2021’s Ag Policy Shifts and a Look at the Coming Year

Senate confirms USDA deputy secretary

Ag Banking
June 12, 2025

Stephen Vaden, who served as general counsel to the USDA and received an appointment from the president in 2020 to serve on the U.S. Court of International Trade, is now the deputy secretary of the USDA. The Senate...

ABA, associations: Farm Bill needed amid worsening economic situation in farm country

ABA, state bankers associations urge Senate to include ACRE Act in budget bill

Ag Banking
June 3, 2025

ABA and 52 state bankers associations urged senators to include legislation to expand access to affordable real estate credit in rural areas in a budget package currently under consideration in Congress.

NEWSBYTES

ABA donates to Texas flood relief efforts, urges bankers to contribute

July 10, 2025

Mortgage rates rise

July 10, 2025

Fed seeks public input on large bank rating system revision

July 10, 2025

SPONSORED CONTENT

Navigating Disruption in Ag Lending – Why Tariffs Are Just the Tip of the Iceberg

Navigating Disruption in Ag Lending – Why Tariffs Are Just the Tip of the Iceberg

July 1, 2025
AI Compliance and Regulation: What Financial Institutions Need to Know

Unlocking Deposit Growth: How Financial Institutions Can Activate Data for Precision Cross-Sell

June 1, 2025
Choosing the Right Account Opening Platform: 10 Key Considerations for Long-Term Success

Choosing the Right Account Opening Platform: 10 Key Considerations for Long-Term Success

April 25, 2025
Outsourcing: Getting to Go/No-Go

Outsourcing: Getting to Go/No-Go

April 5, 2025

PODCASTS

Breaking down the bank-related provisions in the big budget bill

July 10, 2025

Podcast: Inside ABA’s new Treasury Check Verification System API

June 25, 2025

Podcast: Staying close to clients amid tariff-driven volatility

June 18, 2025
ADVERTISEMENT

American Bankers Association
1333 New Hampshire Ave NW
Washington, DC 20036
1-800-BANKERS (800-226-5377)
www.aba.com
About ABA
Privacy Policy
Contact ABA

ABA Banking Journal
About ABA Banking Journal
Media Kit
Advertising
Subscribe

© 2025 American Bankers Association. All rights reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Topics
    • Ag Banking
    • Commercial Lending
    • Community Banking
    • Compliance and Risk
    • Cybersecurity
    • Economy
    • Human Resources
    • Insurance
    • Legal
    • Mortgage
    • Mutual Funds
    • Payments
    • Policy
    • Retail and Marketing
    • Tax and Accounting
    • Technology
    • Wealth Management
  • Newsbytes
  • Podcasts
  • Magazine
    • Subscribe
    • Advertise
    • Magazine Archive
    • Newsletter Archive
    • Podcast Archive
    • Sponsored Content Archive

© 2025 American Bankers Association. All rights reserved.