Jackie Byam, Acting State Conservationist, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), has announced additional funding available to Kansas producers and landowners through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). These funds will be contracted via the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), as well as the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) for the current fiscal year.
The application deadline for EQIP-IRA will be Friday, May 5, 2023. These funds will be approved by using the “Act Now” process. “Act Now” allows applications to be funded as soon as possible, after the application is received. Applications are assessed, ranked, and will be approved in the order received as funds allow, and if the ranking score is above the required threshold score of 25 points. Kansas EQIP-IRA funds for fiscal year 2023 will be targeted to assist participants with grassland recovery in drought areas by implementing Prescribed Grazing.
The application deadline for CSP-IRA will be Friday, March 24, 2023. Applications submitted by this date will be funded in order of ranking score.
“IRA is a historic investment in rural lands which promotes Climate Smart Agriculture Mitigation Practices”, said Byam. “Additional IRA funding will be available through NRCS over the next four years to provide direct climate mitigation benefits and expand access to technical and financial assistance to producers across the country.”
More information will be made available for both EQIP-IRA and CSP-IRA on the Kansas NRCS webpage at www.ks.nrcs.usda.gov, by scrolling down and navigating to either the EQIP or CSP section. USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in many positive ways. Under the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy, and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate-smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov. Service Center personnel continue to work with agricultural producers via phone, email, and other digital tools. Because of the pandemic, some USDA Service Centers are open to limited visitors. Contact your Service Center to set up an in-person or phone appointment. Visit www.farmers.gov to create a secure account, apply for NRCS programs, electronically sign documents, and manage your conservation contracts.
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