Get Help Restoring Your Land
Apply now for the first round of fiscal year 2025 funding consideration. Applications are accepted at all USDA Service Centers in Wisconsin. Applications received after November 1st will automatically be deferred to the next funding cycle.
Farmers, producers, and landowners are encouraged to plan ahead and sign up early for the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service’s (NRCS) voluntary conservation programs. Nathan Fikkert, NRCS Wisconsin State Conservationist, announced that farmers and landowners interested in the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) or Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) need to apply by November 1, 2024 for funding in fiscal year 2025.
EQIP and RCPP are the primary programs available to Wisconsin’s applicants, offering financial assistance for more than 120 basic conservation practices. Last year, Wisconsin NRCS invested $63.2 million in conservation practices through EQIP and RCPP. Although NRCS accepts applications year-round, please apply now for the first round of fiscal year 2025 funding consideration. Applications are accepted at all USDA Service Centers in Wisconsin. Applications received after November 1st will automatically be deferred to the next funding cycle.
The Farm Bill and Inflation Reduction Act allow NRCS to support conservation that ensures cost-effective financial assistance for improved soil health, water and air quality, and other natural resources benefits. “Receiving EQIP or RCPP applications early gives our staff ample time to assist our customers, address their resource concerns and begin planning for their land’s conservation needs,” said Fikkert.
All eligible applications received by November 1, 2024, will be evaluated, prioritized, and ranked for funding in 2025. Farmers should contact their local USDA Service Center to get started on producer eligibility and planning. Fikkert reminds those who are interested in practices that may require permits, such as manure storage or streambank restoration, to begin planning and seeking permits as soon as possible. Applicants with shovel-ready projects (designs completed and permit applications submitted) will receive a higher ranking in select fund pools.