In conjunction with Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack’s announcement of conservation funding through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), Michigan has set an application cut-off date for the Conservation Stewardship Program.

Applications for IRA funding through the Conservation Stewardship Program must be submitted by March 24, 2023. The Conservation Stewardship Program provides annual payments to agricultural producers and private forest owners based on their current conservation practices. Additional payments are provided for implementing new conservation enhancements. For more information about the Conservation Stewardship Program, contact your local USDA Service Center or visit the program web page.

IRA funds will provide direct climate mitigation benefits and will expand access to financial and technical assistance for producers to advance conservation on their farm, ranch or forest land through practices like cover cropping, conservation tillage, wetland restoration, prescribed grazing, nutrient management, tree planting and more. In administering the Inflation Reduction Act climate investments, USDA will also support other environmental co-benefits, including – among other things – water conservation, wildlife habitat improvements, and reducing runoff.