USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Accepting 2024 CSP & EQIP Applications through December 8, 2023
Farmers and landowners in Arkansas have until December 8, 2023, to submit applications to receive financial assistance to implement conservation activities through the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) and the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) for the 2024 program year
Contact: Reginald L. Jackson, State Public Affairs Specialist
(501) 301-3133(w) (501)-352-7761(c)
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Accepting 2024 CSP & EQIP Applications through December 8, 2023
LITTLE ROCK, October 25, 2023 – Farmers and landowners in Arkansas have until December 8, 2023, to submit applications to receive financial assistance to implement conservation activities through the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) and the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) for the 2024 program year. Applicants can sign up at their local United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Field Service Center.
CSP assists agricultural producers maintain and improve their existing conservation systems and adopt additional conservation activities to address priority resource concerns. Participants earn CSP payments for conservation performance - the higher the performance, the higher the payment. NOTE: unfunded Fiscal Year (FY)2024 CSP-Renewals will be automatically deferred to the FY2024 General CSP sign-up.
EQIP contracts provide financial assistance to help plan and implement conservation practices to improve soil health, water quality, improve grazing and forest lands, and establish or improve wildlife habitat. EQIP can also help Arkansas farmers and landowners meet Federal, State, and local environmental regulations.
Inflation Reduction Act: This initial sign-up will include Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) funded opportunities for all CSP and EQIP programs. Inflation Reduction Act applications will be accepted state-wide and must include Climate Smart Agricultural and Forestry (CSAF) activities. Supporting practices or activities may be requested to include in the IRA application but will only be included in a conservation plan if they facilitate a CSAF practice.
NRCS accepts program applications continuously. However, to be considered for funding during this sign-up, applications must be received by December 8, 2023. Applications received after this date will be considered in later funding periods, subject to funding availability.
Additionally, NRCS offers special initiatives, including:
- Organic Initiative - assists producers install conservation practices on certified organic operations or those working toward organic certification.
- On-Farm Energy Initiative - assists producers conserve energy on their operations.
- EQIP Conservation Incentive Contracts (CIC) https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/eqip-conservation-incentive-contracts - provides financial assistance to address priority resource concerns, including sequestering carbon and improving soil health in high-priority areas. Through these contracts, NRCS works with producers to strengthen the quality and condition of natural resources on their operations using management practices that target resource concerns including degraded soil condition and soil erosion. The focus within Arkansas for CIC is to increase the adoption Prescribed Grazing and improving grazing systems on Pasture and Grazing lands. Conservation Incentive Contracts last five years.
- StrikeForce – additional assistance for Underserved Producers in 48 persistent poverty counties: Arkansas, Bradley, Chicot, Clark, Colombia, Dallas, Desha, Drew, Hempstead, Howard, Jackson, Lafayette, Lawrence, Lee, Mississippi, Monroe, Nevada, Newton, Ouachita, Phillips, Randolph, Searcy, Sevier, St. Francis, Woodruff, Ashley, Clay, Conway, Craighead, Crittenden, Franklin, Fulton, Independence, Izard, Jefferson, Johnson, Lincoln, Madison, Miller, Montgomery, Poinsett, Polk, Scott, Sebastian, Sharp, Stone, Union, and Van Buren.
- Strikeforce Healthy Forest (Keeping It In the Family) Initiative – additional assistance for underserved producers to improve forestlands with forestry conservation practices in 18 counties: Bradley, Calhoun, Clark, Cleveland, Columbia, Dallas, Drew, Hempstead, Howard, Jefferson, Lafayette, Little River, Miller, Nevada, Ouachita, Pike, Sevier, and Union.
- Working Lands for Wildlife Initiative - provides financial and technical assistance to producers to enhance early successional habitat to aid in bobwhite quail recovery.
- Arkansas Groundwater Initiative (AGWI) - targeted approach to address critical groundwater decline issues in the Arkansas Delta, providing assistance to agricultural producers in seven counties: Arkansas, Prairie; and portions of Craighead, Cross, Lonoke, Poinsett, and St. Francis.
- National Water Quality Initiative (NWQI) Existing Projects – provides financial and technical assistance to improve water quality and aquatic habitats in priority watersheds with impaired streams. Projects include: Saline Headwaters – portions of Howard, Pike, and Polk counties, Upper Village Creek – portions of Lawrence and Randolph counties.
- Mississippi River Basin Healthy Watersheds Initiative (MRBI) Existing Projects – provides assistance to improve water quality in the following project areas: Candy Creek – portions of St. Francis and Lee counties, Twin Creeks – portions of Cross, Woodruff, St. Francis counties, Izard Lower Strawberry – portions of Izard and Sharp counties, Canal 43 – portions of Desha, Drew, Chicot counties, County Line Strawberry – portions of Sharp and Lawrence counties, Flat Hills – portions of Poinsett and Cross counties, Glade-Raft-White Oak Creek – portions of White and Prairie counties, Lee County – portions of Lee, St Francis, and Phillips counties, Lower White-Bayou Des Arc – portions of Prairie county, West Craighead – portions of Lawrence, Greene, Craighead, and Jackson counties, Arkansas County Lower White – portion of Arkansas county, North Big Creek-Strawberry River – portions of Sharp and Izard counties.
All applications will be evaluated for funding based on local, state and nationally developed criteria to optimize environmental benefits. Applications ranking highest in a funding category will be funded according to priority and is subject to availability of program funds.
ACT NOW process will be used for some EQIP and CSP funding pools. Through ACT NOW, NRCS can immediately approve and obligate a ranked application when an eligible application meets or exceeds a determined minimum ranking score. More information and guidance will be forthcoming on ACT NOW ranking pools later.
Please visit your local USDA Service Center to determine eligibility; applicants are not eligible for USDA programs until they have ensured all Farm Bill eligibility requirements have been met. You can locate your local Field Service Center at USDA Service Center Locator.