Farmers have until November 22 to submit applications for financial assistance in implementing conservation activities through the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) and the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) for the 2025 program year, Dr. Henry English, head of the Small Farm Program at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, said. Applicants can sign up for the programs at their local U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service field service center.
Dr. English said CSP assists producers maintain and improve their existing conservation systems and adopt additional conservation activities to address priority resources concerns.
“Participants earn CSP payments for conservation performance—the higher the performance, the higher the payment,” he said. “CSP funding opportunities are available for agricultural land (cropland and pasture), nonindustrial private forest and urban agriculture operations.”
EQIP contracts provide financial assistance to help plan and implement conservation practices to improve soil health, water quality, grazing and forest lands and establish or improve wildlife habitat, Dr. English said. EQIP can also help Arkansas farmers and landowners meet federal, state and local environmental regulations.
“NRCS accepts applications for these two programs continuously – just keep in mind that to be considered for funding during this signup, applications must be received by November 22, 2024.
Applications received after this date will be considered in later funding periods, subject to funding availability.”
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