(USDA/NRCS) Louisiana Announces Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) 2024 Signup Dates

January 12, 2024 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS) in Louisiana announced today that it is opening an application period for Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) projects. The signup period will begin on January 15 and run for 30 days until February 13, 2024. Applications will be accepted for the current RCPP projects listed below.

What is RCPP? RCPP promotes coordination of NRCS conservation activities with like-minded conservation partners that offer value-added contributions to expand the ability to address on-farm, watershed, and regional natural resource concerns. Through RCPP, NRCS invests with partners to implement projects that provide innovative and creative solutions to conservation challenges and provide measurable improvements and outcomes.

Acting Louisiana State Conservationist, Kris Davis highlighted the importance of partnerships in achieving conservation goals: “These regional programs allow Louisiana NRCS to capitalize on our relationships with partners to greatly expand our conservation efforts. We rely on these partnerships to help achieve our mission of Helping People Help the Land.”

Open Pine Landscape Restoration: Louisiana NRCS along with the lead State of Arkansas and the lead partner organization the American Bird Conservancy, work to improve forest health for wildlife resources. This project focuses on addressing wildlife habitat, fire management, and water quality concerns in Arkansas and Louisiana by implementing open pine forest management practices across private lands in Arkansas and Louisiana.

Improving Water Quality Using Practices 590: Louisiana NRCS works with lead partner, Ducks Unlimited, Inc., to improve water quality through the use of nutrient management practices. This project focuses on helping producers implement soil testing and precision application of nutrients with an ultimate goal of decreasing the sediment and nutrient runoff contributing to the Gulf’s hypoxic zone.

Conjunctive Water Use Protects Mid-South Aquifers: Louisiana NRCS works with partner States Arkansas and Mississippi and lead partner, Ducks Unlimited, Inc., to address the coordinated use of ground and surface water resources in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. This project focuses on minimizing the impact on ground water resources used for agricultural purposes with a goal of restoring Mid-South aquifers.

Who can apply? Individuals and other entities actively engaged in agricultural production are eligible to participate in RCPP. RCPP offers a continuous application sign-up. However, to be considered for the current funding period, applications must be received by February 13th. Applicants can sign up for the 2024 program year by contacting their local USDA NRCS service center. 

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