NRCS in N.H. Announces Signup Date for Fiscal Year 2024 Under EQIP, AMA and CSP

DOVER, N.H. (September 11, 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), Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA) and Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP).

The NRCS has set an initial signup date for these programs in Fiscal Year 2024 of Thursday November 9, 2023, for EQIP, AMA, and CSP.

     All applications need to be received by this date to be considered for funding for FY 2024. The government fiscal year starts October 1st and continues through September 30th annually.

     NRCS, 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.

     “While crop years and the government’s fiscal year are not in perfect alignment for most agricultural producers, it is important to be ready with a plan early,” said Rebekah Lauster, NRCS Acting State Conservationist for New Hampshire. “By ensuring your farm records and conservation plans are established and up to date, producers can save a lot of time during those hectic months.  Generally, we notice that the most impactful financial-assistance recipients are those who are ready with an established and updated conservation plan.”

     Earlier signups lead to earlier selections for funding and allow for a full field season to implement funded conservation practices, starting as early as the following spring.

     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.

     “Waiting until the next calendar year to establish or update your conservation plan can be disadvantageous to the producer,” said Lauster. “By having a conservation plan in place or updated based on your current operation, producers can more readily apply for financial assistance programs. It ultimately makes the process much more fluid.”

     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 November 9, 2023, 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

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

     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-farmers or contact your local USDA service center.

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