Financial assistance available to help Oregon farmers, ranchers, forest owners protect their natural resources

The USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Oregon announces funding available for Oregon farmers, ranchers and forest owners to perform voluntary conservation activities on their land. 

Farm Bill and Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) funding for this sign-up period is available through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). Applicants should apply by November 29, 2024 to be considered for the first round of fiscal year 2025 funding. 

To learn more and apply for available funding in your area, contact your local USDA Service Center or apply online at farmers.gov. Find out what funding is available in your county here.

The November 29 deadline applies to the following:

• General EQIP: In Oregon, general EQIP dollars are available to producers within a Conservation Implementation Strategy (CIS) area. CIS’s are locally-led projects developed by farmers and partners through the NRCS Local Work Group process. 
   
• Organic Initiative: Offers assistance to USDA certified organic producers and to producers wishing to transition their operation to obtain an organic certification. Funding is available statewide.
   
• High Tunnel Initiative: Offers assistance to install a high tunnel (hoop house) to extend seasonal crop production to strengthen local and regional food markets while reducing pesticide use and energy inputs. Funding is available statewide.
   
• On-Farm Energy Initiative: Assists producers to conserve energy on their farms through an on-farm energy audit and provides assistance to implement various recommended measures identified in an energy audit. Funding is available statewide.
   
• Sage Grouse Initiative: Focuses on making measurable and significant progress toward treating threats to rangeland health including sage grouse habitat on private lands. Funding is available statewide.
   
• WaterSMART Initiative: A collaboration with the Bureau of Reclamation to coordinate investments in priority areas for improving water conservation and drought resilience. Funding is available in Malheur, Hood River and Wasco counties.
   
• Joint Chiefs Landscape Restoration Initiative: These projects focus on reducing the risk of catastrophic wildfire on private forestlands and adjacent federal lands managed by the U.S. Forest Service. Funding is available in Wasco and Grant counties. 
   
• National Water Quality Initiative: NRCS works closely with conservation partners to select priority watersheds where on-farm conservation investments will deliver the greatest water quality improvements. Funding is available in Baker, Lane, Jackson and Clackamas counties.
   
• National Air Quality Initiative: In Oregon, funding is available to farmers to help orchard producers reduce the use of high-emission, diesel-fuel smudge pots which are commonly used to protect crops from damaging spring frosts. NRCS provides a financial incentive to help growers remove smudge pots from their operations so they can be replaced with cleaner, more efficient systems. Funding is available in Hood River and Wasco counties. 
   
• Inflation Reduction Act (IRA): NRCS Oregon has IRA funding available to target the following: Cropland, Forestland, Rangeland, Pastureland, Energy, Animal Feeding Operations and Wildfire Disaster Recovery. IRA funds in Oregon are in addition to Farm Bill funds. Producers contracting through IRA must implement Climate-Smart Agriculture and Forestry practices. 
   
• Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP): RCPP promotes the coordination of NRCS conservation activities with partners that offer value-added contributions to expand our collective ability to address on-farm, watershed, and regional natural resource concerns. Farmers, ranchers and forest owners who manage property within a current RCPP project area may be eligible for conservation assistance from NRCS and partners. See the Oregon project map for RCPP locations and more details about each regional project.
   

Learn More & Apply
Visit the Oregon EQIP webpage for more information about NRCS Oregon EQIP funding opportunities and program eligibility. Learn more about Oregon RCPP and how to apply here. Find current projects and funding opportunities specific to your county by visiting the “What’s Available in My County?” webpage. 

Interested applicants can also contact their local USDA Service Center to inquire about active projects in their county and apply for assistance. 

Contact:
Lauren Bennett
Lauren.bennett2@usda.gov
503-414-3220