The USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) continues to invest funds to help agricultural producers improve water quality across the country. In Connecticut, NRCS has announced they are accepting applications from qualifying farmers in the Broad Brook and Farm River Watersheds. Funds will be made available through the agency’s National Water Quality Initiative (NWQI). Although NRCS accepts applications year-round, applications for FY2023 NWQI funding must be submitted by April 21, 2023.

NRCS launched NWQI in 2012. Since then, priority watersheds across the country have seen improvements, including the delisting of once impaired streams.

“We’ve learned that when we partner with producers to deliver conservation practices to critical watersheds, we see a positive impact,” said Robert Hathorne, Connecticut’s Acting State Conservationist. “Through these partnerships we maximize the delivery of our conservation efforts which yields greater results to water quality and benefits the public, our natural resources, and farmers’ bottom lines.”

Through this initiative, NRCS offers technical and financial assistance to farmers and ranchers to implement practices that avoid, control, and trap nutrients and sediment, which in high quantities negatively impact water quality. Practices include filter strips, cover crops, and manure management – which promote soil health, reduce erosion, and lessen nutrient runoff.

Producers interested in technical and financial assistance through the National Water Quality Initiative should contact their local NRCS office: Danielson (860) 779-0557, Hamden (203) 287-8038, Norwich (860) 887-9941, Torrington (860) 626-8852, Windsor (860) 688-7725.