EAST LANSING, Feb. 6, 2024 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture is accepting applications from farmers in the Lake Creek Watershed in Ionia County for conservation financial assistance through the National Water Quality Initiative. Farmers must apply to the USDA Natural Resources Conservation by March 8, 2024 to be considered for current funding.

The Natural Resources Conservation Service will provide financial assistance to selected applicants for implementing conservation practices that benefit water quality such as cover crops, nutrient management, filter strips, animal waste storage facilities and conservation tillage. Producers can view an online map or contact their local NRCS office to see if they are in the selected watershed. Applications are selected for funding on a competitive basis.

To deliver the National Water Quality Initiative, NRCS worked in collaboration with local partners and state conservation and water quality agencies to identify watersheds where on-farm investments have the best chance to improve water quality. NRCS also will work with state and federal partners, such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Geological Survey, to assess results over the long term. 

Producers can contact the Ionia County USDA Service Center for more information including how to apply and if their operation is eligible for the National Water Quality Initiative. Producers can also apply online using the farmers.gov portal.