NRCS's natural resources conservation programs help people reduce soil erosion, enhance water supplies, improve water quality, increase wildlife habitat, and reduce damage caused by floods and other natural disasters. Public benefits include enhanced natural resources that help sustain agricultural productivity and environmental quality while supporting continued economic development, recreation and beauty.
Financial Assistance
Agricultural Management Assistance Program (AMA) - AMA helps agricultural producers use conservation to manage risk and address natural resource issues through natural resources conservation. AMA is not available in Nebraska.
Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) - EQIP helps promote farm and forest production by enhancing the environmental quality of soil, water, air, plants and animals.
Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) - CSP is a voluntary program that encourages agricultural and forestry producers to maintain existing conservation activities and adopt additional ones on their operations.
National Water Quality Initiative (NWQI) - Through the NWQI, the Natural Resources Conservation Service works with farmers and ranchers in small watersheds to improve water quality by providing financial assistance to implement conservation systems to reduce nitrogen, phosphorous, sediment and pathogen contributions from agricultural land.
Healthy Forests Reserve Program (HFRP) - helps landowners restore, enhance and protect forestland resources on private lands through easements and financial assistance. HFRP is not available in Nebraska.
Don't lose your USDA benefits! Most USDA programs require you to comply with the Highly Erodible Land and Wetland Conservation provisions of the Food Security Act of 1985, as amended, which link program eligibility to farming practices designed to protect wetlands and to protect highly erodible land from excessive soil erosion.
For more information about the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) or the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP), visit the Farm Service Agency's web site.
For more information contact: Brad Soncksen
Assistant State Conservationist for Programs
(402) 437-4111
