AUBURN, ALABAMA, November 7, 2024 –The Alabama Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will use the ACT NOW policy to streamline the delivery of conservation financial assistance. ACT NOW, allows NRCS to pre-approve ranked applications that meet or exceed a minimum environmental ranking threshold score continuously throughout a sign up period. 

Fiscal Year 2025 Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) applications in the following ranking pools will be considered for ACT NOW expedited pre-approvals. 

• Climate Smart Agriculture Initiative     (95-point minimum ranking score)                 
• Seasonal High Tunnel Initiative             (120-point minimum ranking score)
• On-farm Energy Initiative                      (60-point minimum ranking score)
• Irrigation Efficiency Initiative                (50-point minimum ranking score)
• CPAs, DIAs and CEMAs                           (10-point minimum ranking score)
• Urban and Small Scale                            (35-point minimum ranking score)

Alabama producers may start submitting applications now for consideration under the ACT NOW policy guidelines that will take effect January 31^st, 2025. Applications eligible for the identified ACT NOW ranking pools will be accepted on a continuous sign-up basis through March 28^th, 2025, at which time the ACT NOW submission period will close. 

The submission period will close earlier if all the funds allocated to the fund pool are utilized. ACT NOW applications will be batched and processed in the order they are received, with selections made on a weekly basis starting January 31^st, 2025. 

The Act Now policy (440-CPM-530-D-530.37) streamlines the application process, as part of the NRCS Equity Action Plan. This means no longer having to wait for all applications to be reviewed, prior to making pre-approvals for a ranking pool. For more information about assistance available, contact your local USDA Service Center.