Tennessee sets application cut-off period for EQIP and CSP Inflation Reduction Act funding
NASHVILLE, February 17, 2023 – The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Tennessee announced an application cut-off period of Thursday, March 23, 2023, for Tennessee agricultural producers and forest landowners to submit applications to participate in the Environmental Quality Incentives Program and the Conservation Stewardship Program to adopt climate smart practices through the Inflation Reduction Act.
The Inflation Reduction Act represents the single largest investment in climate and clean energy solutions in American history and is estimated to help hundreds of thousands of farmers and ranchers gain access to conservation assistance and apply conservation to millions of acres of land.
“This is a once-in-a-generation investment in climate-smart practices that create value and economic opportunities for Tennessee producers,” said NRCS Tennessee State Conservationist Sheldon Hightower. “Agriculture plays a critical role in Tennessee’s effort to address climate change and we’re using this funding to bolster our existing programs, maximize climate benefits, and foster other environmental benefits across the landscape.”
The Inflation Reduction Act provides increased funding levels over five years to support USDA’s conservation programs that yield climate change mitigation benefits, beginning in fiscal year 2023 and rapidly building over four years. This investment means that more producers will have access to conservation assistance through several NRCS conservation programs, including:
Producers interested in assistance for Environmental Quality Incentives Program – Inflation Reduction Act or Conservation Stewardship Program – Inflation Reduction Act should apply by March 23 to be considered for funding in the current cycle. However, Tennessee NRCS accepts producer applications for its voluntary conservation programs year-round. Funding is provided through a competitive process and will include an opportunity to address the unmet demand from producers who have previously sought funding for climate-smart conservation activities.
For more information, contact your local NRCS office or contact Robert Boettcher, Acting Assistant State Conservationist for Programs, at robert.boettcher@usda.gov, 615-277-2544.
Click here for a list of acceptable climate smart practices and mitigation activities.
Click here to print full version of this news release.
Please visit the NRCS Tennessee website here.
USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. In the Biden-Harris administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America.
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.
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