NRCS in Arizona Accepting Applications from Producers, Landowners for Inflation Reduction Act Funding

PHOENIX, ARIZONA September 15, 2023 - The USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is announcing December 1st, 2023, as the initial application batching date for applications to be considered for fiscal year 2024 IRA funding.

NRCS accepts applications year-round. However, Arizona producers and landowners should submit applications by the December 1, 2023, application batching date to be considered in this upcoming round of IRA funding.

Additional funds from the Inflation Reduction Act have provided significant support for oversubscribed programs such as the Environmental Quality Incentives Program and the Conservation Stewardship Program.

To be eligible for IRA funding, practices and activities must be selected from the NRCS approved list of Climate-Smart Agriculture and Forestry (CSAF) mitigation activities.

Through its conservation programs, NRCS provides technical and financial assistance to help producers and landowners make conservation improvements on their land that benefit natural resources and build resiliency.

Funding through the IRA will provide direct climate mitigation benefits and will expand access to financial and technical assistance for producers to advance conservation on their farm, ranch or forest land through practices like cover cropping, conservation tillage, prescribed grazing, nutrient management, tree planting and more.

"This is an investment to conserve America's working lands," said Clyde Williams, Acting State Conservationist in Arizona. "We encourage farmers and ranchers to contact your local NRCS office to find out how to put this investment to work on your working lands."

Application batching for all programs and states are available at www.nrcs.usda.gov/ranking-dates. Applications received after the application batching date may be deferred to the next funding period.

Producers, landowners and forest managers interested in applying for assistance should contact the NRCS at their local USDA Service Center.