We are now accepting additional applications for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), as well as CSP Classic. Applications that meet eligibility and ranking criteria for each program, and are received by April 3, 2023, will be considered for fiscal year 2023 funding.EQIP provides technical and financial assistance to agricultural producers and forest landowners to address natural resource concerns, such as: water and air quality, soil health, and wildlife habitat. NRCS works one-on-one with producers to develop a conservation plan that outlines conservation practices and activities to help solve on-farm resource issues. Producers implement practices and activities in their conservation plan that can lead to cleaner water and air, healthier soil and better wildlife habitat, all while improving their agricultural operations. EQIP helps producers make conservation work for them. Financial assistance for practices may be available through EQIP. Some producers may also qualify for advance payment.
Through the CSP program, NRCS helps private landowners build their business while implementing conservation practices and enhancements that help ensure the sustainability of their entire operation. NRCS will work with applicants to assess current resource concerns on their land to establish a benchmark stewardship condition, and then work with the applicants to select practices and/or enhancements that will achieve higher levels of conservation.
Highlights of this once-in-a-generation investment and opportunity for the agricultural and forest landowner communities that NRCS serves are the following:•
- • IRA will provide an additional $19.5 billion nationwide over five years for climate smart agriculture and forestry through several NRCS conservation programs.• IRA in fiscal year 2023 is a unique opportunity for private forest landowners to better manage their forests through Forest Stand Improvement with enhancements to rehabilitate degraded hardwood stands, manage crop trees for mast production, create summer roosting habitat for native forest-dwelling bat species. improve understory vegetation and increase on-site carbon storage.• IRA builds on other climate efforts, including encouraging producers to adopt cover crops, apply soil health practices, implement nutrient management and follow prescribed grazing.
- For fiscal year 2023, New York received nearly $5million in IRA funding, including:• $2 million for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program• $2.3 million for the Conservation Stewardship Program
How to Apply
NRCS New York accepts producer applications for its conservation programs year-round, but producers interested in EQIP-IRA, CSP-IRA, or CSP Classic should apply by April 3, 2023, to be considered for funding in the current cycle. Funding is provided through a competitive process and will include an opportunity to address the unmet demand from producers who have previously sought funding for climate-smart conservation activities.
Other opportunities for agreements and partnerships at the state level will be announced for fiscal year 2023 in the coming months. The IRA provides funding to support those strategic partnerships with local, regional and national organizations. This will include outreach to underserved producers to ensure IRA climate funding is reaching those who have been previously unable to access conservation assistance.For more information, please contact your local service center.
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