MADISON, Wis., Sept. 22, 2025 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Wisconsin has established the fiscal year (FY) 2026 application batching date for the first application evaluation period for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP).  Producers and landowners interested in receiving financial assistance need to submit applications to NRCS by Friday, Oct. 31, 2025.

Both EQIP and RCPP are voluntary programs that offer financial and technical assistance for participants to install or manage conservation practices on eligible agricultural land.

• Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) helps agricultural producers in a manner that promotes agricultural production and environmental quality as compatible goals. EQIP is NRCS’s flagship conservation program, helping 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.
• Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) promotes coordination between NRCS and partners to deliver conservation assistance to producers and landowners. NRCS provides assistance through producer contracts or easement agreements. 

While applications are accepted year-round, they are only reviewed and ranked during specific funding periods. Oct. 31, 2025, is the final date by which a producer or landowner must apply to be considered in the first round of FY26 funding through either program. 

More Information

To learn more about NRCS programs, producers can contact their 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. 

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. 

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