More than $100 million is available for conservation practices on farms, ranches,
and private non-industrial forestland
DAVIS,
Calif., Sept. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The USDA
Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in California announces Fiscal
Year 2025 (October
1, 2024 through September 30, 2025) federal
assistance opportunities for agricultural producers,
including through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program
(EQIP). While NRCS accepts applications for these programs
year-round, interested
applicants should apply no later than November 15, 2024, for the first
application cutoff period.
"We are excited to support California's producers with an historic
investment in on-farm
conservation this Fiscal Year,"
said NRCS California State Conservationist Carlos Suarez. "With
the addition of the Inflation Reduction Act, we will be investing
approximately 50 percent more federal funding
to help producers address their unique
resources concerns and help them achieve
their stewardship goals."
Through EQIP and the Inflation Reduction
Act, more than $100 million is available for
conservation practices and initiatives, including but not
restricted to,
- National Air Quality Initiative (NAQI) to assist farmers in
replacing outdated engines with new and cleaner-burning
technology.
- Activities that support wildlife habitat creation and
enhancement on farms and ranches.
- NRCS and Bureau of Reclamation WaterSmart partner projects to
help improve water infrastructure, delivery, and application on
farms.
- National Water Quality Initiative for targeted conservation
actions to improve water quality.
- Joint Chief's Landscape Restoration Partnership to collaborate
with agricultural producers, forest landowners, tribes and public
land managers to mitigate wildfire risk, improve water quality, and
restore forest ecosystems
Application cutoff periods allow NRCS to screen and rank
applications for those with the highest conservation benefits
across California's landscapes,
including cropland, ranchlands, and private
non-industrial forestlands. Additional signups may be
announced at later dates.
EQIP provides
financial assistance to agricultural producers to address natural
resource concerns and deliver environmental benefits. These
include improved water and air quality, improved irrigation
efficiency, reduced soil erosion and sedimentation, forest
restoration, organic and creating or enhancing wildlife
habitat.
Applying for Assistance
Applicants seeking financial assistance are required to meet
Farm Bill Program eligibility in conjunction with the Farm Service
Agency, which includes meeting the Highly Erodible Land and Wetland
Compliance requirements and the Adjusted Gross Income limits.
NRCS California will be utilizing ACT NOW to process conservation applications in
selected ranking pools to deliver conservation faster. ACT NOW
allows NRCS to immediately approve and obligate a ranked
application. This means no longer having to wait for all
applications to be reviewed and preapproved. Applications selected
through ACT NOW will be batched and processed in the order
received.
NRCS accepts conservation program applications year-round. State
Technical Committees, composed of producers and partners, work with
NRCS to set state-specific, ranking dates to
evaluate applications for funding. These dates
account for producer needs, staff workload,
and to ensure potential participants have ample opportunity to
apply. To find out more about our application process
or to begin an application, please contact your local NRCS Service Center by
visiting here.
Technical Assistance
NRCS offers conservation technical assistance at no cost to give
producers personalized advice
and information, based on the latest science
and research, to help them make informed
decisions. If a producer chooses to take the next step towards
improving their operations, NRCS staff can work with them to
develop a free, personalized conservation plan, with conservation
practices that can help them reach their agricultural production
and conservation goals.
The voluntary conservation plan defines and explains existing
resources in a simple, easy to understand manner. Typically, the
plan will include land use maps, soils information, inventory of
resources, engineering notes, and other supporting information. One
benefit to landowners
who work with an NRCS professional conservationist to develop a plan is an increased potential
for participating in financial assistance programs and is a good
first step in the overall process.
Historically Underserved Producer Benefits
Special provisions are also available for historically
underserved producers. For EQIP,
historically underserved producers
are eligible for advance payments
to help offset costs related to purchasing
materials or contracting services up front. In addition,
historically underserved
producers can receive higher EQIP payment
rates (up to 90% of average cost).
NRCS sets aside EQIP funds for historically underserved
producers.
NRCS has provided leadership in a partnership effort to help America's private
landowners and managers conserve their soil, water, and other
natural resources since 1935.
For additional information about EQIP, visit the California NRCS
website.
USDA is an Equal Opportunity Provider,
Employer, and Lender
Contact: Brandon Bates
(530) 792-5653, Brandon.Bates@usda.gov
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SOURCE USDA - Natural Resources Conservation Service