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Conservation funding available to Alaska private landowners through Inflation Reduction Act

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Alaska
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ag land in Alaska

The Alaska U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is extending the previously announced sign-up dates for three financial assistance programs available to private landowners and Tribes throughout Alaska.

NRCS Alaska extends application deadlines for Environmental Quality Incentives Program, Conservation Stewardship Program and Agricultural Conservation Easement Program

PALMER, Alaska – February 22, 2023 – The Alaska U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is extending the previously announced sign-up dates for three financial assistance programs available to private landowners and Tribes throughout Alaska.

The new application deadlines are:

  • Environmental Quality Incentives Program – March 17 and June 16
  • Conservation Stewardship Program – March 24 and May 12
  • Agricultural Conservation Easement Program – March 17

The deadline extensions are due to the recent announcement of additional funding made available through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), signed into law on August 16, 2022. Some of the highlights of this once-in-a-generation investment and opportunity for the agricultural communities that USDA serves are the following:

  • IRA will provide an additional $19.5 billion over five years for climate smart agriculture through several NRCS conservation programs.
  • This builds on other climate efforts, including the renewed efforts to encourage producers to adopt cover crops and implement nutrient management in recent years.
  • In administering the Inflation Reduction Act climate investments, USDA will also support other environmental co-benefits, including water conservation, wildlife habitat improvements, and reducing run-off.

While applications are accepted throughout the year, interested producers should submit applications to their local NRCS office by the deadlines to ensure their applications are considered for 2023 funding.

EQIP Options

The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) is the most frequently used NRCS program in Alaska and is an excellent starting place for producers who are new to working with the agency. EQIP provides technical and financial assistance to private landowners and producers to help them adopt more than 170 different conservation practices to address a wide variety of natural resource concerns. More information is available on the Alaska EQIP webpage. Some of the most popular conservation practices adopted in Alaska through EQIP include:

  • Tree/Shrub Establishment
  • Forest Stand Improvement
  • Trails and Walkways
  • Aquatic Organism Passage
  • High Tunnel System
  • Fence
  • Stream Habitat Improvement and Management
  • Road/Trail/Landing Closure and Treatment
  • Cover Crop
  • Pasture and Hay Planting
  • Irrigation System, Microirrigation
  • Irrigation Water Management
  • Structures for Wildlife
  • Conservation Crop Rotation
  • Nutrient Management

CSP Options

The Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) is designed for producers who are already doing conservation on their property who desire to take their efforts to the next level through comprehensive conservation and advanced conservation activities. CSP enrolls the entire property into a 5-year contract and offers annual payments. CSP payments do two things: they reward landowners for the conservation efforts they are already doing, and they help landowners adopt additional conservation activities. For example, if you have been planting a cover crop, you may decide to try an enhancement for multi-species cover crop or implement a deep-rooted cover crop to break up soil compaction. For CSP a complete application includes the program application form, a map of all eligible lands, and a description of all ineligible lands.

ACEP Options

The Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) help private landowners protect wetlands, grasslands and farmlands from future development by entering those lands into a conservation easement. ACEP is open to Alaska Native tribes and corporations, state and local governments, and non-governmental organizations that own privately-owned farmlands, wetlands or grasslands. Through ACEP, NRCS provides financial and technical assistance to secure easements for both working agricultural lands and for wetlands.

How to Apply

Farmland and forestland operators and owners and Alaska Native producers and/or entities who are interested in applying for assistance should contact their local NRCS office for more information and to begin the application process.

  • Fairbanks: (907) 479-3159
  • Kenai: (907) 283-8732
  • Kodiak: (907) 283-6640 x105
  • Wasilla: (907) 373-6492
  • Delta Junction: (907) 895-4241
  • Homer: (907) 235-8177
  • Juneau: (907) 586-7220

 

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