NRCS in N.H. Announces Signup Date for Fiscal Year 2024 Under EQIP ACT Now Authority

DOVER, N.H. (November 6, 2023) – Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in New Hampshire has established the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 application dates for the following NRCS financial assistance programs: Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP): ACT Now.

Under ACT Now, NRCS has the authority to immediately preapprove and obligate a ranked application in designated ranking pools when an eligible application meets or exceeds a State determined minimum ranking score.  All applications in the ranking pool do not have to be ranked to select an application with a ranking score above the established ranking threshold.

For FY-2024, NH NRCS will be utilizing ACT Now authority to process application in the following ranking pools: CPA-DIA-CEMA, EQIP-IRA, Socially Disadvantaged Farmer and Rancher, and Oyster Restoration applications. These applications will be batched and process on a rolling basis as they are received. Only applications that exceed the minimum threshold ranking score may be processed on the accelerated ACT Now timeline.

NRCS has set an initial signup date for this specific funding authority in Fiscal Year 2024 of Friday April 12, 2024. All applications need to be received prior to this date, that meet the established minimum threshold requirements will be processed on the accelerated timeline.

Any application not funded under the ACT Now authority, will still be considered for funding in FY 2024 under traditional obligation authorities.

NRCS, N.H. encourages farmers and local nonindustrial private forest landowners to start the planning process now to ensure success. 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.

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.

You can find your local service center on the USDA’s Farmers.gov website here: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/contact/find-a-service-center.

While NRCS New Hampshire has set the official program application cutoff for EQIP ACT Now as April 12, 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

For more information about registering your farm records with FSA, you can visit the USDA’s New Farmers site here:  https://www.farmers.gov/your-business/beginning-farmersor contact your local USDA service center.

# # #
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.