SPOKANE VALLEY, Wash. – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service in Washington (NRCS-WA) has set Oct. 23, 2025, as the application deadline for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) Classic for Fiscal Year 2026.

EQIP is a voluntary, technical, and financial assistance program designed to help farmers, ranchers, forestland owners, and Tribes with the application of conservation measures. The program focuses strongly on conservation planning, conservation implementation, and solving natural resource concerns, including, but not limited to the following: 

• Forestland health improvements
• Irrigation efficiency
• Nutrient run-off and/or animal waste management
• Improving native plant community health
• Removing manmade instream obstructions for fish passage
• Reducing soil loss from wind or rain
• Wildlife habitat and Fish passage issues

Farm Bill funds implement EQIP and host a wide range of environmental benefits and expand access to financial and technical assistance for producers to advance conservation for farmers, ranchers, and private landowners. This includes popular practices like crop rotation, conservation tillage, habitat restoration, prescribed grazing, forest management to mitigate wildfire risk, energy conservation, and more. Ultimately, this will lead to economic opportunity for operations small to large, improved reach to communities that have been marginalized by underinvestment, more productive soil, cleaner water and air, healthier wildlife habitat and natural resource conservation for future generations. 

“We are deeply committed to providing excellent customer service to Washington’s farmers, ranchers, foresters, Tribes, and rural communities,” said Keith Griswold, NRCS-WA Assistant State Conservationist for Programs.

The NRCS in Washington worked with Tribes and private landowners to obligate a record amount of investment in conservation in fiscal year 2025. The total amount of funding obligated to EQIP contracts was more than $59 million. The agency also saw a record number of producers interested in fiscal year 2025 with almost 2,400 EQIP applications.

How to Apply

Although NRCS accepts applications for its conservation programs year-round, Washington producers interested in this cycle of conservation funding must first submit their EQIP Application to their local service center by Oct. 23, 2025, and then submit all the following eligibility determinations to the Farm Service Agency by Jan. 16, 2026:

• 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 also consider previously unfunded applications in this round. For more information on the Environmental Quality Incentives Program Classic in Washington, click here.

More Information

To learn how to get started with NRCS, click here, or visit a local USDA service center. Producers can also apply for NRCS programs, manage conservation plans and contracts, and view and print conservation maps by logging into their farmers.gov account. If you don’t have an account, sign up today. To learn how to sign up for free email and text alerts about the latest NRCS program and national funding opportunities, click here.

For 90 years, NRCS has helped farmers, ranchers and forestland owners make investments in their operations and local communities to improve the quality of our air, water, soil, and wildlife habitat.  NRCS uses the latest science and technology to help keep working lands working, boost agricultural economies, and increase the competitiveness of American agriculture. NRCS provides one-on-one, personalized advice and financial assistance and works with producers to help them reach their goals through voluntary, incentive-based conservation programs. For more information, visit nrcs.usda.gov.