The 2018 Farm Bill was enacted on December 20, 2018. The Farm Bill continues its strong support for conservation efforts of America’s farmers and ranchers through reauthorization and expanded flexibility of NRCS conservation programs.
NRCS offers financial and technical assistance through conservation practices, activities and enhancements to help agricultural producers make and maintain improvements on their land. Producers with active contracts under the 2014 Farm Bill may continue completing practices as scheduled; sign-up information for the Farm Bill 2018 will be announced as it becomes available.
The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) provides financial and technical assistance to agricultural producers to address natural resource concerns and deliver environmental benefits such as improved water and air quality, conserved ground and surface water, increased soil health and reduced soil erosion and sedimentation, and improved or created wildlife habitat.
The Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) helps agricultural producers maintain and improve their existing conservation systems and adopt additional conservation activities to address priority resources concerns. Participants earn CSP payments for conservation performance—the higher the performance, the higher the payment.
The Agricultural Conservation Easement Program helps landowners, land trusts, and other entities protect, restore, and enhance wetlands, grasslands, and working farms and ranches through conservation easements.
The Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) promotes coordination between NRCS and its partners to deliver conservation assistance to producers and landowners. NRCS provides assistance to producers through partnership agreements and RCPP conservation program contracts.
Conservation Reserve Program - Administered by the USDA Farm Service Agency with technical assistance from NRCS, the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) provides long-term rental agreements to remove highly-erodible or environmentally sensitive land from agricultural production.
Conservation Innovation Grants (National) - Competitive grants administered by the NRCS National Office to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative approaches and technologies for conservation on agricultural lands.
Conservation Innovation Grants (State) - Competitive grants administered by NRCS Alaska to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative approaches and technologies for conservation on agricultural lands.
Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program - Provides funding to help state and tribal governments encourage landowners to allow public access to their land for hunting, fishing, and other wildlife-dependent recreation.
