The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) established a national Jan. 15, 2026, batching deadline for the first funding round of key conservation programs. This national batching date ensures producers have a clear, consistent timeline for participating in Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), and Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP). This includes NRCS’ new Regenerative Pilot Program, which provides targeted Farmer First assistance through EQIP and CSP.

“The NRCS team continues its commitment to Missouri’s producers — advancing conservation, strengthening service delivery, and keeping our promise to the men and women who feed and fuel our nation,” said NRCS Acting State Conservationist Nate Goodrich.

NRCS programs are continuous sign-up programs, but due to the government shutdown, the agency is implementing an initial national batching period to ensure producers have access to funding and support.

Updated NRCS Program Timelines

• All NRCS conservation programs remain continuous sign-up.
• Farmers and ranchers have until Jan. 15, 2026, to apply for the first batching period.
• National and State Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) will follow later in the year.
• PL-566 and Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) opportunities remain open for sponsors based on available funding.

Programs with a January 15, 2026, batching period deadline include:

• Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP)
• Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)
• Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP)
• New NRCS Regenerative Pilot Program (EQIP & CSP)

ACEP enrollment options include:

• ACEP-Wetland Reserve Easements (WRE): Helps restore, protect, and enhance wetlands on eligible land. Wetland reserve easements are either perpetual, 30-years, or maximum duration under state law, or 30-year contracts (for Indian Tribes).
• ACEP-Agricultural Land Easements (ALE): Protects farmlands and grasslands by limiting non-agricultural uses of the land. Agricultural Land Easements are either perpetual or the maximum duration allowed under State law.

To learn more about ACEP or to apply, please visit your local USDA Service Center, or contact Taylor Forsythe, Acting State Easements Coordinator, at erin.forsythe@usda.gov or (573) 876-0901.

Missouri NRCS will focus on the following targeted initiatives for this initial EQIP batching period in addition to the Regenerative Pilot Program: 

• Mississippi River Basin Healthy Watersheds Initiative in the following geographic locations:
  • Spring/Turkey/Long Creek watershed (HUC12, 102801031302, 102801031301, 102801031204, Linn, Sullivan, Chariton Counties)
  • Fox River watershed (HUC12, 071100010301, 071100010306, Clark County)
  • Ash Ditch/Maple Slough watershed (HUC12, 080103000308, 080103000306, New Madrid, Scott, Mississippi Counties)
  • Headwaters of East Locust Creek watershed (HUC12, 102801030601, Putnam, Sullivan Counties)
  • Upper Crooked Creek watershed (HUC12, 071100050401, Shelby County)
  • Otter Creek watershed (HUC12, 102801011502, Caldwell County)
• National Water Quality Initiative in the following geographic locations:
  • Shoal Creek watershed (HUC12, 110702070803, 110702070801, 110702070706, 110702070703, Barry, Newton Counties)
  • Upper Middle Petite watershed (HUC12, 103001020403, 103001020405, Cooper County)
• Working Lands for Wildlife-Northern Bobwhite Quail (statewide)
• Working Lands for Wildlife-Monarch Butterfly (statewide)
• Agroforestry (statewide)
• Organic Agriculture (statewide)
• Native Forage Initiative (statewide)
• Virtual Fence Initiative (statewide)
• Urban Agriculture (Kansas City) 

CSP helps you build on your existing conservation efforts while strengthening your operation. Whether you are looking to improve grazing conditions, increase crop yields, or develop wildlife habitat, we can custom design a CSP plan to help you meet those goals. We can help you schedule timely planting of cover crops, develop a grazing plan that will improve your forage base, implement no-till to reduce erosion or manage forested areas in a way that benefits wildlife habitat.

EQIP and CSP Applications can be turned in to NRCS Missouri USDA Service Centers. To locate an office near you,  visit farmers.gov/service-locator. Applications are accepted year-round, but applications MUST be received in your local service center by 4 p.m. on January 15, 2026, to be considered for funding for this initial batching period.  

For more information about NRCS programs and assistance, visit the NRCS Missouri website or contact your local service center. NRCS employees in county offices can provide more information about programs and how to apply.  

For more information, please visit nrcs.usda.gov or contact your local USDA Service Center.