Current Funding Cycle Application Deadline is November 1, 2024

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is accepting applications for the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). 

While NRCS accepts applications year-round, Florida producers and landowners should apply by November 1, 2024, to be considered for funding in the FY2025 current cycle.

Through RCPP, NRCS co-invests with partners to implement projects that demonstrate innovative solutions to conservation challenges and provide measurable improvements and outcomes tied to the resource concerns they seek to address. 

To apply for RCPP, land must be located within a project area and land management activities must address the resource concerns identified as the goal of the project. NRCS Florida has the following RCPP projects offering land management application opportunities:

Together with our partner, Alachua Conservation Trust (ACT), NRCS is accepting land management conservation applications for the Surface to Springs, Forest to Gulf and the Lake to Lagoon RCPP Projects. Follow this link for the specific project information. Contact ACT at (352) 373-1078 if you are interested in finding out more information about this opportunity.

Together with our Partner, North Florida Land Trust (NFLT), NRCS is accepting land management conservation applications for the Ocala to Osceola Wildlife Corridor, O2O@nflt.org and the Corridor to Coast, C2C@nflt.org RCPP Projects. Follow this link for the specific project information. Contact Michelle Smith at (907) 557-7984 if you are interested in finding out more information about this opportunity.

Together with our Partner, Tall Timbers (TT), NRCS is accepting land management conservation applications for the Red Hills to the Coast RCPP Project. Follow this link for specific project information. Contact Tyler Macmillan at 850-556-5799 or tmacmillan@talltimbers.org or Nelson Ball at nball@talltimbers.org if you are interested in finding out more information about this opportunity.

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Florida announces Fiscal Year 2025 (October 1, 2024, through September 30, 2025) federal assistance opportunities for agricultural producers, including through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), and the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP).

While NRCS accepts applications year-round, Florida producers and landowners should apply no later than November 1, 2024, to be considered for funding in the FY2025 current cycle. If applications are received after the signup period for FY2025, applications will automatically be considered during future funding cycles.

Application cutoff periods allow NRCS to screen-and-rank applications for those with the highest conservation benefits across Florida’s landscapes, including cropland, grazing lands, and private non-industrial forestlands. Contract obligations for the highest ranked applications is scheduled for end of June 2025.

EQIP can help farmers, ranchers and forest landowners integrate conservation into working lands. It provides financial and technical assistance to address natural resource concerns. Benefits include conserving water; enhancing wildlife habitat; improving air, soil and water quality; mitigating impacts from climate change; and preventing soil erosion.

The CSP is for working lands and is the largest conservation program in the country. Thousands of people voluntarily enroll in the program, because it helps them enhance natural resources and improve their business operation. Landowners can earn CSP payments for conservation performance.

Inflation Reduction Act

This sign-up will include Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) CSP and EQIP funding opportunities. Inflation Reduction Act applications must include Climate Smart Agricultural and Forestry (CSAF) activities, supporting practices or activities may be requested in the IRA application but will only be included if they facilitate a CSAF practice.

Additionally, NRCS offers special initiatives, including:

• Organic Initiative – assists producers install conservation practices on certified organic operations or those working toward organic certification.
• On-Farm Energy Initiative – assists producers conserve energy on their operations.
• Urban Farms Initiative – assists urban agriculture producers involved in the cultivation of agricultural products in urban and suburban areas.
• Working Lands for Wildlife Initiative – provides financial and technical assistance to producers to enhance habitat and to aid in recovery of bobwhite quail and gopher tortoise.

• Longleaf Pine Initiative – Florida is one of nine states offering funding to help private landowners restore and manage longleaf pine using conservation practices such as site preparation, planting longleaf pine, installing firebreaks, conducting prescribed burning and controlling invasive plants.
• EQIP Conservation Incentive Contracts (CIC) provides financial assistance to address priority resource concerns, including sequestering carbon and improving soil health in high-priority areas. Conservation Incentive Contracts last five years.

Historically Underserved Producer Benefits

Special provisions are also available for historically underserved producers. For EQIP, historically underserved producers are eligible for advance payments to help offset costs related to purchasing materials or contracting services up front. In addition, historically underserved producers can receive higher EQIP payment rates (up to 90% of average cost). NRCS sets aside EQIP and CSP funds for historically underserved producers.