Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) - Minnesota
Inflation Reduction Act
Application cut-off: March 24, 2023
What is the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)?
On August 16, 2022, President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) into law. It is a historic, once-in-a-generation investment and opportunity for the agricultural communities that USDA serves. IRA will help producers stay on the farm, prevent producers from becoming ineligible for future assistance, and promote climate-smart agriculture by increasing access to conservation assistance.
Conservation Assistance Through NRCS
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is now accepting applications to its Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) for funding in Fiscal Year 2023 using funds provided by the IRA. EQIP-IRA and CSP-IRA applications must include at least one core Climate Smart Agriculture and Forestry (CSAF) conservation practice or activity that directly improves soil carbon, reduces nitrogen losses, or reduces, captures, avoids or sequesters carbon dioxide, methane or nitrous emissions associated with agricultural productions. Facilitating practices or activities that are needed to implement the core practice may also be included.
For the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program, Wetland Reserve Easements, applications for the current IRA funding cycle must be submitted by March 17, 2023, for the first funding round. Learn more from the Feb. 13, 2023, news release.
*NRCS plans to roll out the next Regional Conservation Partnership Program funding opportunity in early spring, which will include IRA funds from fiscal year 2023.
These are oversubscribed programs that are well known to farmers and ranchers. This additional investment will help farmers and ranchers implement expanded conservation practices that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase storage of carbon in their soil and trees.
Additional Information
NRCS Climate-Smart Mitigation Activities
Producers and land managers are experiencing firsthand the impacts of climate change, which is caused by the build-up of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. With support from NRCS, farmers, ranchers and forest landowners across the nation’s working lands can contribute to climate solutions.
Learn MoreRanking Dates
NRCS accepts producer applications for its conservation programs year-round, but producers interested in funding during the current fiscal year should apply by their state’s ranking dates (below).
These dates include applications for programs funded through the Inflation Reduction Act.
Learn MoreNRCS Conservation Programs and the Inflation Reduction Act
The IRA provides USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) with $19.5 billion in additional funds over five years for its existing conservation programs, including the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), and the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP).
Climate Smart Agriculture and Forestry (CSAF) Activities
EQIP-IRA and CSP-IRA applications must include at least one core Climate Smart Agriculture and Forestry (CSAF) conservation practice or activity that directly improves soil carbon, reduces nitrogen losses, or reduces, captures, avoids or sequesters carbon dioxide, methane or nitrous emissions associated with agricultural productions.