Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announced that it would provide up to $7.7 billion in assistance for the 2025 fiscal year to help agricultural producers adopt conservation practices on working lands. Funding is available through the following conservation programs:
Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP)
- Provides financial assistance for purchasing perpetual Agricultural Land Easements (ALE) that protect the agricultural use and conservation values of eligible land to help farmers keep their land in agriculture.
- Apply by December 20, 2024
Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP)
- Available to producers regardless of size to help improve natural resources on working lands.
- Apply by April 15, 2025
Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)
- Offers farmers cost-share and technical assistance for implementing conservation practices on farmlands.
- Apply by November 15, 2024, and January 31, 2025
Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP)
- Helps farmers implement and maintain conservation practices such as cover cropping and nutrient management to achieve shared preservation goals.
- Apply by November 8, 2024, and April 15, 2025
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