The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has established the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 application batching date for the first FY 2026 application evaluation period for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), the Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA) program, and the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP).  Producers interested in being considered for financial assistance need to submit applications to NRCS by Friday, August 29, 2025.

EQIP is a voluntary conservation program that helps agricultural producers in a manner that promotes agricultural production and environmental quality as compatible goals. EQIP is the flagship conservation program that helps farmers and forest landowners integrate conservation into working lands. Through EQIP, agricultural producers receive technical and financial assistance to implement structural, vegetative and management conservation practices that optimize environmental benefits on working agricultural land.

The AMA program provides financial and technical assistance to agricultural producers to voluntarily address issues such as water management, irrigation systems, water quality, and erosion control by incorporating conservation into their farming operation and mitigate risk through production diversification.

Through CSP, agricultural producers and forest landowners earn payments for actively managing, maintaining, and expanding conservation activities all while maintaining active agricultural production on their land.  Participants enroll their entire ag or forestry operation in the program under a 5-year contract, with the option to renew for another 5 years. 

EQIP, AMA, and CSP are open to all eligible agricultural producers and submitted applications may be considered or evaluated in multiple funding opportunities.

While WV-NRCS has set the first FY 2026 application batching date for EQIP, AMA, and CSP on August 29, 2025, NRCS accepts program applications year-round on a continuous basis.  Application evaluations only take place during announced ranking periods.  Applications received after a batching date will automatically be considered during a future funding cycle. For consideration in the first-round of FY 2026 funding, eligible landowners must submit their application no later than August 29, 2025. For more information, visit a local USDA Service Center or visit our website at http://www.wv.nrcs.usda.gov.