1. ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY INCENTIVES PROGRAM (EQIP)

This program technical and financial assistance to agricultural producers and forest landowners to address natural resource concerns, such as:.

•   Improved water and air quality;

•   Conserved ground and surface water;

•   Increased soil health;

•   Reduced soil erosion and sedimentation;

•   Improved or created wildlife habitat;

•   Mitigation against drought and increasing weather volatility.

You can benefit from this program under umbrella of continuous techincal and financial support or via application for Inflation Reduction Act.

Read more about EQIP

2. CONSERVATION STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM (CSP)

Whether you are looking to improve grazing conditions, increase crop resiliency, or develop wildlife habitat, NRCS can custom design a CSP plan to help you meet those goals. They can help you identify natural resource problems in your operation and PROVIDE TECHNICAL and FINANCIAL assistance to solve those problems or attain higher stewardship levels in an environmentally beneficial and cost-effective manner.

You can benefit from this program under umbrella of continuous techincal and financial support or via application for Inflation Reduction Act.

Read more about CSP

3. AGRICULTURAL CONSERVATION EASEMENT PROGRAM (ACEP)

ACEP helps landowners, land trusts, and other entities protect, restore, and enhance wetlands or protect working farms and ranches through conservation easements.

You can benefit from this program under umbrella of continuous techincal and financial support or via application for Inflation Reduction Act.

Read more about ACEP

4. CONSERVATION TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE (CTA)

CTA provides farmers, ranchers and forestland owners with the knowledge and tools they need to conserve, maintain and restore the natural resources on their lands and improve the health of their operations for the future.

NRCS offers this assistance at NO COST to the producers. Their goal is to give farmers personalized advice and information, based on the latest science and research, to help farmers make informed decisions.

Under this program, farmers can also choose to apply for financial assistance to get help installing the conservation practices outlined in their conservation plan.

Read more about CTA

5. CONSERVATION PLANNING

A conservation plan identifies the farmer's conservation objectives and assesses and analyzes the natural resources issues on that farmer's land related to soil, water, animals, plants, air, energy, and human interaction.

The conservation plan includes tools and resources customized specifically for each farmer, like a land use map, soils information, photos, inventory of resources, economic costs and benefits, schedule of recommended practices, maintenance schedules, and engineering notes — all based on the producer's goals and the resource needs.

Read more about CONSERVATION PLANNING

1. REGIONAL CONSERVATION PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM (RCPP)

•   RCPP comes in forms of RCPP Classic  and RCPP Alternative Funding Arrangements (AFA)  grants. The majority of farms are eligible to receive grants under RCPP. AFA was created to provide funds to farms that for any reason do not qualify for grants provided under RCPP Classic.

•   !!!!! Application deadline for 2024 is July 2

•   An advisor will walk you through all qualification requirements and will come to your location for an assessment. FREE OF CHARGE.

Read more about both programs  

RCPP Classic application form

AFA Application form

2. INFLATION REDUCTION ACT (IRA)

BAD NEWS: Last 2024 deadline for Ohio was April 5, so we just missed it. Consequence of our vacant House seat.

GOOD NEWS: It still is a good idea to apply ASAP, because all new applications will count for the next year (2025 calendar is not available yet, but we are monitoring for updates).

Read about Inflation Reduction Act