RICHMOND, Va., Jan. 9, 2024 – The USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Virginia is announcing Feb. 9, 2024, as the second batching date for applications submitted for Fiscal Year 2024 funding through either the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) or the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).

NRCS uses batching dates (as opposed to a single deadline) for CSP and EQIP as a tool to review, approve and fund applications at several points throughout the year. This ensures that farmers, graziers and forest landowners looking to establish or enhance conservation practices on their land have several opportunities to receive funding during a fiscal year. This application batching date announcement is also for Inflation Reduction Act-funded Climate Smart Agriculture and Forestry mitigation activities. These in-demand activities are expected to deliver reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and increases in carbon sequestration as well as significant other benefits to soil health, water quality, air quality and habitat for pollinators and wildlife.

NRCS accepts applications on a continual basis, and applications received after a batching date will automatically be considered during future funding cycles.

Conservation Stewardship Program

CSP is the nation’s largest conservation program in terms of the number of acres enrolled and is designed to help agricultural producers seeking to upgrade their conservation measures. 

Using CSP, agricultural producers and forest landowners earn payments for actively managing, maintaining and expanding conservation practices including cover crops, ecologically-based pest management, buffer strips and pollinator and beneficial insect habitat – all while maintaining active agricultural or forest production on their land. CSP also encourages the adoption of new technologies and new management techniques, such as irrigation monitoring, precision agriculture applications, improved grazing systems, on-site carbon storage and planting for high carbon sequestration rate and new soil amendments to improve water quality.

Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)

EQIP is NRCS’ flagship conservation program that helps farmers, ranchers and forest landowners integrate conservation practices into working lands.

EQIP provides financial and technical assistance to address natural resource concerns and to deliver environmental benefits, such as improved water and air quality, conservation of ground and surface water, reduced soil erosion and sedimentation, improved soil health and plant condition and improved or created wildlife habitat.

Virginia NRCS will be utilizing ACT NOW to process conservation applications in some ranking pools to promote faster review and action. ACT NOW allows NRCS to immediately approve and obligate a ranked eligible application in a designated ranking pool when the application meets or exceeds a state-determined minimum ranking threshold score. This eliminates the previous need to wait for all applications to be reviewed and preapproved in a ranking pool.

Virginia NRCS will use the ACT NOW process for some EQIP and CSP funding pools and projects through April 23, 2024. 

ACT NOW will start for CSP on March 19, 2024. The ACT NOW fund pools and their respective minimum ranking threshold score are shown below.

• FY24 EQIP ACT NOW High Tunnel System – Minimum ranking threshold = 50

• FY24 ACT NOW EQIP Urban Ag IRA – Minimum ranking threshold = 70

• FY24 VA EQIP ACT NOW Agland SD IRA – Minimum ranking threshold = 35

• FY24 VA ACT NOW EQIP CPAs-DIAs-CEMAs – Minimum ranking threshold = 70

• FY24 VA ACT NOW EQIP Grazing & Pasture IRA – Minimum ranking threshold = 80

• FY24 VA ACT NOW EQIP Cropland IRA – Minimum ranking threshold = 70

• FY24 VA CSP Ag Land ACT NOW– Minimum ranking threshold = 90

• FY24 VA CSP Ag Land IRA ACT NOW – Minimum ranking threshold = 100

• FY24 VA CSP NIPF ACT NOW – Minimum ranking threshold = 90

• FY24 VA CSP NIPF IRA ACT NOW – Minimum ranking threshold = 125

• FY24 VA ACT NOW CSP Ag Land SD IRA – Minimum ranking threshold = 60

How to Apply

Applications can be submitted at local USDA offices. Each applicant must establish themselves as a USDA customer and obtain all Farm Service Agency (FSA) eligibility requirements by March 12, 2024. Please note, Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) determination takes an average three weeks to be processed by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). It is highly recommended that applicants submit their completed AGI form to FSA several weeks prior to March 12, 2024, the deadline for determining eligibility.  Submitting an AGI form to FSA on the last day of the application period will result in your AGI eligibility not being met by the deadline for Fiscal Year 2024.

Although applications are accepted on a year-round basis, eligible applicants interested in CSP or EQIP must first submit their application to their local service center by Feb. 9, 2024, and then submit all of the following eligibility determinations to FSA by March 12, 2024:

•  Highly erodible lands and wetland determination (AD 1026)
•  Adjusted Gross Income form (CCC 941)
•  Farm and track eligibility determination
•  Farm operating plan (CCC 902)

NRCS will conduct an assessment and rank all eligible applications received by the batching date. NRCS will fund applications that meet the minimum ranking threshold and as funding allows.

More information

For more information about NRCS programs and assistance, visit the www.va.nrcs.usda.gov or contact the NRCS service office serving your area of the state. 

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