NRCS in N.H. Announces Application Dates for Fiscal Year 2025 for Select Programs
The USDA’s NRCS in the Granite State has announced the application dates for the EQIP, CSP and AMA programs for Fiscal Year 2025. Producers should apply by October 4, 2024, to be considered in this first round of funding.
DOVER, N.H. August 23, 2024 – Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in New Hampshire has established the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 application dates for the following NRCS financial assistance programs: Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA) and Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP).
The NRCS has set an initial signup date for these programs in Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 of Friday October 4, 2024, for EQIP, CSP, and AMA.
All applications need to be received by this date to be considered for this first round of funding for FY 2025. The government fiscal year starts October 1st and continues through September 30th annually.
Additional rounds may be available if funding remains after processing this first signup batch. While producers may apply at any time during the year, this first signup round has the highest potential of being selected as all funding is available early in the fiscal year. So don’t delay – the NRCS recommends applying by this date to ensure we can assist you with your conservation project.
The NRCS in N.H. encourages farmers and local nonindustrial private forest landowners to start the planning process now to ensure success as the agency begins transitioning to the next fiscal year.
Establishing farm records with the Farm Service Agency (FSA) is a necessary step to be eligible for USDA financial assistance programs through FSA or NRCS. By registering your farm with the FSA, producers will have access to Farm Bill programs in place to support their operations – including conservation programs offered through NRCS along with farm loans and other financial assistance offered through FSA.
“By having a conservation plan in place or updated based on your current operation, producers can more readily apply for financial assistance programs,” explains Becky Ross, State Conservationist for NRCS in New Hampshire. “It ultimately makes the process much more fluid.”
More Information:
Assistance is only a phone call away. NRCS and FSA staff are ready to answer your questions, work to ensure your success with USDA Farm Bill programs, and address conservation concerns on your land.
With new technology in place, many required documents can now be signed virtually, right from a smart phone or computer, significantly reducing mailing delays and trips to the local service center. This helps keep producers where they need to be – in the field and on the farm.
While NRCS New Hampshire has set the official program application cutoff for EQIP, AMA, and CSP of October 4, 2024, NRCS accepts program applications year-round on a continuous basis. Cutoff dates are necessary for the agency to assess and rank applications against each other for funding, based on their potential conservation impact.
For more information on NRCS Farm Bill programs, you can visit the NRCS, New Hampshire website here: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/NewHampshire
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