The Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service is offering more than $41 million in funds meant to soften the blow of drought in California, Colorado, Oregon and Arizona.

California’s statewide office of USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service has awarded $319,000 in conservation innovation grants that will address soil health and carbon storage on rangelands, tillage management for rice, and the economics of soil health and water management.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack told senators Tuesday that his department is working on measures that will “significantly” increase U.S. meatpacking capacity, a top priority of producers who believe industry concentration is depressing livestock prices.