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Press Release

Attention Rhode Island Farmers and Woodland Owners: Apply by Oct. 3rd for USDA Conservation Programs

Publish Date
Collage of ag operations in Rhode Island - forestry, small-scale vegetables in high tunnel, beef cattle, oysters, poultry, and wildlife habitat.

Rhode Island NRCS announces that the first fiscal year (FY) 2026 sign-up deadline for our conservation programs has been set for Oct. 3, 2025. 

This first signup is for our Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA) Program, Agricultural Conservation Easements Program (ACEP), and Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP).

NRCS helps Ocean State farmers, private woodland owners, and oyster growers apply conservation practices and activities on their land. We offer a variety of practices like cover crops, tree planting, composting facilities, pasture & hay planting, oyster reef restoration, wildlife habitat planting, efficient irrigation systems, long term land protection with conservation easements, and more. 

All our NRCS financial and technical assistance programs are voluntary programs that help our clients to install or manage conservation practices on eligible agricultural land.

Funding is provided through a competitive process. NRCS accepts applications for conservation programs year-round but sets state-specific ranking dates to evaluate applications for funding. Application cutoff periods allow NRCS to screen and rank applications for those with the highest conservation benefits across Rhode Island’s landscapes, including cropland, pastureland, and private non-industrial forestlands. The next application cutoff date is Friday, Oct. 3, 2025. Applications received after this ranking date will be automatically deferred to the next funding period.

Visit www.RI.nrcs.usda.gov or call your local NRCS Field Office or Conservation District Office for more information:

  • Rhode Island State Office: 401-828-1300, ri-nrcs-publicinfo@usda.gov
  • Eastern Rhode Island – Serving Bristol & Newport counties
    • NRCS Field Office: 401-786-1389
    • Conservation District Office: 401-934-0842
  • Northern Rhode Island – Serving Providence county
    • NRCS Field Office: 401-822-8835
    • Conservation District Office: 401-934-0840
  • Southern Rhode Island – Serving Kent & Washington counties
    • NRCS Field Office: 401-822-8837
    • Conservation District Office: 401-661-5761

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USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

Additional Information

Environmental Quality Incentives Program - Rhode Island

The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) provides financial and technical assistance to Rhode Island farmers, woodland owners, oyster growers, livestock producers, and urban growers to address natural resource concerns in the Ocean State.

Learn More

Conservation Stewardship Program - Rhode Island

The Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) helps you build on your existing conservation efforts while strengthening your operation. 

Learn More

Agricultural Management Assistance - Rhode Island

The Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA) helps agricultural producers manage financial risk through diversification, marketing or natural resource conservation practices. 

Learn More

Agricultural Conservation Easement Program - Rhode Island

The Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) helps landowners, land trusts, tribes, and other entities to protect, restore, and enhance wetlands, grasslands, and working farms and ranches through conservation easements.

Learn More

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