March 28 Deadline for EQIP Disaster Assistance

Huron, S.D., Mar.  4, 2025 – In response to agricultural producers impacted by the Power Dam Road Fire and Lincoln Fire in Mellette County, South Dakota, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced open enrollment for disaster assistance through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), which offers financial and technical support to help producers plan and implement post fire restoration practices on their land. 

While applications are accepted year-round, March 28, 2025, is the final date by which an operator or landowner must sign an application at their local NRCS office for Fiscal Year (FY25) funding consideration.

“We will work one-on-one with producers to assess the critical damages from the disaster, develop an effective recovery plan and implement conservation solutions that helps rebuild agricultural communities, working lands and natural resources that were lost to the wildfires, said Valorie Dupraz. 

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) South Dakota will evaluate disaster assistance applications using the ACT NOW process. ACT NOW allows NRCS to pre-approve a ranked application when the ranking score meets or exceeds an established threshold score. The minimum threshold ranking score for EQIP disaster assistance funding is 100 points. Applications will be batched and processed in the order received.  

This EQIP disaster assistance funding is targeted toward the conservation practice, Prescribed Grazing.  The focus will be to defer grazing on the burned acres to allow for adequate time for recovery of the area.

NRCS accepts applications for conservation programs year-round, but to be included in this funding batch, interested producers can apply at their local USDA Service Center by submitting a Conservation Program Application (NRCS-CPA-1200) by March 28, 2025.

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