Delaware Producers Can ACT NOW for NRCS Funding

DOVER, Del., Nov. 4, 2024 — Diane Gray, Delaware State Conservationist, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), has announced Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 guidance for the ACT NOW funding for several conservation practices. The Act Now funding process allows applicants that meet the state minimum required ranking scores to avoid longer wait times typically associated with conservation programs, allowing them to enter into EQIP and AMA contracts quickly. 

ACT NOW has several initiatives to assist clients with their conservation goals. Some of the funding opportunities within these initiatives will be for energy improvements, tree plantings, cover crops, soil carbon amendments, high tunnels, high tunnel related irrigation practices, and more. These practices and activities directly improve soil carbon; reduce nitrogen losses; or sequester carbon dioxide, methane, or nitrous oxide emissions associated with agricultural production. 

ACT NOW eligible practices are part of the following initiatives:

• Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA) – High Tunnel: A high tunnel system, allowing for the protection of crops and extension of the growing season; high tunnel related irrigation practices such as water wells, micro irrigation and more; and cover crops for high tunnels.
• Environmental Quality Incentives Program Inflation Reduction Act (EQIP-IRA) – Cropland:  Soil carbon amendments such as biochar and compost application to improve organic matter; and cover crops.
• EQIP-IRA – Forestry: Tree and Shrub establishment.
• EQIP-IRA – Energy:  Agricultural facility energy improvements such as LED lighting, insulation, air sealing, tunnel doors, vent boxes, heaters, inefficient fans, and more.
• EQIP – Conservation Planning Activities (CPAs): Forest management plans, soil health management plans, and conservation plan supporting organic transition.
• EQIP – Design and Implementation Activities (DIAs): Pollinator habitat design, improved management of drainage water design, irrigation water management design, and more.
• EQIP – Conservation Evaluation and Monitoring Activities (CEMAs):  Soil health testing.

Applications eligible for the identified ACT NOW ranking pools will be accepted on a continuous sign-up basis through Dec. 13, 2024, at which time the ACT NOW sign-up period will close. Applications eligible through ACT NOW will be processed in the order received.

After the deadline, if funding is still available, applications with ranking scores less than the State-established threshold ranking score may be preapproved in ranking order.

For more information on NRCS programs, contact your local USDA Service Center. In Sussex County, call 302-856-3990, ext. 3; in Kent County, call 302-741-2600, ext. 3; and in New Castle County, call 302-832-3100, ext. 3. Additional information on all NRCS programs and services is available online at www.de.nrcs.usda.gov.

USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. In the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure, and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America.  To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.

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Delaware NRCS works with Delaware Conservation Districts in a partnership effort to address resource concerns on privately-owned agricultural and forest lands.

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