Agricultural Landowners Encouraged to Apply for Regional Conservation Partnership Program
USDA NRCS is accepting applications for the Regional Conservation Partnership Program. While NRCS accepts applications year-round, Florida producers and landowners should apply by November 1, 2024, to be considered for funding in the FY2025 current cycle.
GAINESVILLE, Florida, September 12, 2024 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is accepting applications for the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP).
While NRCS accepts applications year-round, Florida producers and landowners should apply by November 1, 2024, to be considered for funding in the FY2025 current cycle.
Through RCPP, NRCS co-invests with partners to implement projects that demonstrate innovative solutions to conservation challenges and provide measurable improvements and outcomes tied to the resource concerns they seek to address.
To apply for RCPP, land must be located within a project area and land management activities must address the resource concerns identified as the goal of the project. NRCS Florida has the following RCPP projects offering land management application opportunities:
Together with our partner, Alachua Conservation Trust (ACT), NRCS is accepting land management conservation applications for the Surface to Springs, Forest to Gulf and the Lake to Lagoon RCPP Projects. Follow this link for the specific project information. Contact ACT at (352) 373-1078 if you are interested in finding out more information about this opportunity.
Together with our Partner, North Florida Land Trust (NFLT), NRCS is accepting land management conservation applications for the Ocala to Osceola Wildlife Corridor, O2O@nflt.org and the Corridor to Coast, C2C@nflt.org RCPP Projects. Follow this link for the specific project information. Contact Michelle Smith at (907) 557-7984 if you are interested in finding out more information about this opportunity.
Together with our Partner, Tall Timbers (TT), NRCS is accepting land management conservation applications for the Red Hills to the Coast RCPP Project. Follow this link for specific project information. Contact Tyler Macmillan at 850-556-5799 or tmacmillan@talltimbers.org or Nelson Ball at nball@talltimbers.org if you are interested in finding out more information about this opportunity.
Application Requirements
Applicants will need to provide records and forms necessary to establish farm records and certifications outlined below:
- Farm records established or updated with the Farm Service Agency for the applicant and the land
- Be in compliance with highly erodible land and wetland conservation requirements
- Applicable documentation required for signature authority
- Have control of land where “control” means possession of the land by ownership, lease, or other agreement
- Written concurrence from the landowner to apply a structural or vegetative conservation practice.
- Be in compliance with provisions for protecting the interests of tenants and sharecroppers
Applications are available at your local USDA Service Center or online on our Get Started with NRCS web page and will be accepted until November 1, 2024. Our RCPP Partners are also able to accept your application.
More on NRCS
NRCS has 34 field offices throughout Florida with teams ready to help landowners with conservation programs. Contact your local NRCS field office for more information.
If applications are received after the current sign up of November 1, 2024, applications will automatically be considered during future funding cycles.
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.
Contacts:
Denise Liggett, RCPP Coordinator, denise.liggett@usda.gov
Melissa Lopez Martinez, State Program Specialist-RCPP, Melissa.LopezMartinez@usda.gov