A breakdown of federal spending related to conservation in Scott County over the last ten years

Data regarding federal spending in Scott County, Virginia, shows about 16 financial transactions within the county related to conservation. Ten direct payments totaling about $188,000 were obligated to recipients located in Scott County as part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Emergency Conservation Program under the Farm Service Agency. That's according to data available through USASpending.gov, which tracks data on U.S. government spending. Those Emergency Conservation Program obligations are all within the last two years. The recipients names are redacted because they contain personally identifiable information. The most expensive payment was more than $98,000, and only one obligation based in Gate City has been paid out. The Emergency Conservation Program is a program that offers assistance to farmers and ranchers whose farmland has been affected by disasters like floods, hurricanes, wildfires and drought. The program offers financial and technical support to rehabilitate damaged land, restore production, and "prevent further environmental degradation." Six other payments were obligated in Scott County over the last ten years totaling more than $160,500. Those six payments were awarded through the USDA's Conservation Stewardship Program under the Natural Resources Conservation Service. Only some of that money was actually spent so far — about 30%, according to USAspending.gov. Recipients' names are redacted because they contain personally identifiable information. The most recent obligation under the Conservation Stewardship Program has a period of performance running from 2026 to 2030. It's the most expensive obligation under the program in Scott County at $38,507. The Conservation Stewardship Program is for farmers, ranchers and foresters who are interested in integrating conservation practices into their operations. Producers implement parts of a conservation plan that work toward "cleaner water and air, healthier soil and better wildlife habitat, all while improving their agricultural operations," according to the Natural Resources and Conservation Service. Any kind of federal funding noted in the database for Scott County awards over the last ten years — contracts, loans, grants or other payments — did not include awards that explicitly mention "environment" in its description. However, millions of dollars combined have been obligated to the county over the years for water infrastructure. Jorgelina Manna-Rea is a Report for America corps member reporting on issues relating the environment for Six Rivers Media.