Farmers and ranchers interested in signing up for the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) and Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) have until Jan. 15 to submit initial paperwork.
Although the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) programs allow for continuous sign-up, the agency is implementing this national batching period to ensure producers have access to funding and support following the government shutdown.
Administered by NRCS, CSP and EQIP provide financial and technical assistance for producers implementing conservation practices while maintaining agricultural production.
“CSP and EQIP are voluntary programs designed to help producers meet their conservation goals while maintaining their bottom lines,” said Andrew Tonnies, policy associate with the Center for Rural Affairs. “The financial support provided through these programs is especially important given the tight profit margins producers are facing.”
CSP is designed to reward producers for new and existing conservation activities across an entire operation. To be eligible, applicants must demonstrate they are currently addressing priority resource concerns on their farm or ranch and a willingness to implement additional practices.
EQIP offers assistance for single practices or projects to help producers address a particular resource concern. Several structural practices, such as terraces, can be funded through EQIP as well.
Through both programs, the applying producer will develop a conservation plan with support from local NRCS staff to ensure the implemented practices benefit natural resources and meet the applicant’s conservation goals.
Clay Govier, a corn and soybean producer from Broken Bow, Nebraska, has used CSP and EQIP to help implement no-till practices, cover crops, and nutrient management, and install moisture meters.
“CSP and EQIP have been great programs to help cover some of the cost of adopting practices that have an upfront expense, but a long-term benefit,” Govier said. “The local NRCS office has been helpful and easy to work with to develop a conservation plan that works for my farm.”
Farmers interested in applying for either program are encouraged to contact their local NRCS office. Applications for the recently launched Regenerative Pilot Program will also be accepted during this time. A list of local offices can be found at nrcs.usda.gov/contact/find-a-service-center.
