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Vermont NRCS Announces Signup Date for Land Management and Rental RCPP Project

The application date for fiscal year 2023 funding is January 13, 2023.
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Aerial view of a Vermont Farm

NRCS in Vermont announces a ranking date for the Land Management and Land Rental portions of the Regional Conservation Partnership Program. Interested producers must apply by January 13, 2023, for their application to be included in this batch of program funding.

COLCHESTER, VT, November 3, 2022 – The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and partner organization, the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), have announced a sign-up for Land Management and Land Rental activities funded through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). While applications are accepted year-round, the application date for Fiscal Year 2023 is January 13, 2023. Through this RCPP project, Vermont DEC has secured over $3.75 million toward Land Management and Rental activities in cooperation with NRCS and has contracted with partners, the Vermont Association of Conservation Districts and Redstart Forestry, to work with landowners interested in evaluating their land for participation in the program. 

RCPP Land Management and Rental activities present an opportunity for eligible agricultural and forest producers to protect water quality and Vermont’s natural resources by implementing conservation practices on lands through a voluntary conservation contract with and eligible producer. These RCPP contracts function much like other NRCS conservation programs such as EQIP and CSP; however, under this project they offer unique flexibilities that these programs do not, such as higher program payment percentages on select priority practices, and a separate Farm Bill payment limitation.

How to Apply: Eligible agricultural and forest producers are encouraged to reach out to the RCPP planners with the Vermont Association of Conservation Districts or by applying directly to their local USDA service center: Service Center Locator | Natural Resources Conservation Service (usda.gov).  Applicants should state their interest in this RCPP project by mentioning the program name “RCPP Project 2132 – Water Quality” on the program application form.

For More Information: General programmatic questions related to this RCPP project should be directed to Marli Rupe, Agricultural Water Quality Section Chief, Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation, marli.rupe@vermont.gov, 802-490-6171.

Partner website: Lake Champlain Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) | +Department of Environmental Conservation (vermont.gov)

NRCS website: Vermont Regional Conservation Partnership Program | Natural Resources Conservation Service (usda.gov)

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