ACT NOW - Illinois
ACT NOW allows NRCS to quickly approve and obligate ranked applications in a designated ranking pool when an application meets or exceeds a State-determined minimum ranking score. In fiscal year 2025 (10/1/24-9/30/25) Illinois NRCS will use the ACT NOW process for CSP Renewal and EQIP Initiatives.
Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP):
Funding for the current year has ended.
Deadlines:
The EQIP ACT NOW ranking deadlines are:
- Thursday March 13, 2025
- Monday April 14, 2025
- Tuesday May 13, 2025
- Friday June 13, 2025
Minimum Threshold Ranking Score:
The minimum threshold ranking scores for the 7 EQIP ranking pools are:
- NWQI Friends Creek FY25 ACT NOW Ranking Pool = 60 point ranking threshold
- NWQI Money Creek FY25 ACT NOW Ranking Pool = 41 point ranking threshold (threshold updated)
- NWQI Panther Creek FY25 ACT NOW Ranking Pool = 43 point ranking threshold (threshold updated)
- Northern Bobwhite FY25 ACT NOW Ranking Pool = 60 point ranking threshold - Funds Exhausted 3/14.
- Monarch Butterfly FY25 ACT NOW Ranking Pool = 25 point ranking threshold (threshold updated)
- Joint Chiefs’ Landscape Restoration Partnership (JCLRP) - Cross Boundary Upland Oak Restoration FY25 ACT NOW Ranking Pool = 79 point ranking threshold (threshold updated) - Funds Exhausted 4/15.
- Urban Ag FY25 ACT NOW Ranking Pool = 80 point ranking threshold - Funds Exhausted 4/15.
Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) Renewal:
Funding for the current year has ended.
Deadlines:
The CSP Renewal ranking deadlines are:
- Friday November 1, 2024
- Friday November 8, 2024
- Friday November 15, 2024
Minimum Threshold Ranking Score:
The minimum threshold ranking scores for each of the 9 CSP Renewal ranking pools are as follows:
- Agricultural Land - Renewal - IRA FY25 ACT NOW Ranking Pool = 5-point ranking threshold (Updated 11/18/2024)
- NIPF - Renewal - IRA FY25 ACT NOW Ranking Pool = 15-point ranking threshold (Updated 11/18/2024)
- Agricultural Land - Renewal - Organic FY25 ACT NOW Ranking Pool = 20-point ranking threshold
- Agricultural Land - Renewal - Socially Disadvantaged Farmer (SDF) FY25 ACT NOW Ranking Pool = 15-point ranking threshold
- NIPF - Renewal - Socially Disadvantaged Farmer (SDF) FY25 ACT NOW Ranking Pool = 20-point ranking threshold
- Agricultural Land - Renewal - Beginning Farmer (BF) FY25 ACT NOW Ranking Pool = 20-point ranking threshold
- NIPF - Renewal - Beginning Farmer (BF) FY25 ACT NOW Ranking Pool = 20-point ranking threshold
- Agricultural Land - Renewal FY25 ACT NOW Ranking Pool = 15-point ranking threshold (Updated 11/18/2024)
- NIPF - Renewal FY25 ACT NOW Ranking Pool = 40-point ranking threshold