Kris R. Ethridge, Acting State Conservationist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), announced the 2024 application deadline of Friday, Nov. 17, for both Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), and the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP).
Kansas is projected to have over 70 million in Farm Bill and Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) dollars to help producers improve the natural resources on their land. “Farmers can adopt structural, vegetative, and management practices to help with their identified natural resource concerns on working agricultural lands,” said Ethridge. “Kansans can benefit from water conservation, soil health, and grassland conservation with multiple available practices.”
NRCS accepts conservation program applications on a continuous basis and makes funding decisions throughout the year. Interested Kansas agricultural producers and landowners must apply during the initial application period for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 financial assistance by Friday, Nov. 17.
All contract participants must meet Farm Bill Program eligibility. Eligibility includes working with the Farm Service Agency (FSA) to report the Highly Erodible Land (HEL) and Wetland Compliance requirements as well as Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) limits. Financial assistance eligibility for NRCS programs is based upon identified resource concerns documented within the producer’s application. A conservation plan will be developed based upon the NRCS nine-step planning process.
“We are excited to announce the application deadline for EQIP and CSP programs in 2024, providing support to Kansas agricultural producers and landowners. This funding opportunity underscores our commitment to addressing resource concerns on diverse lands, from traditional farms to urban and wildlife habitats. We encourage producers to apply to ensure that our shared conservation goals are met while adhering to program requirements. Technical assistance is readily available at local Service Centers, and we look forward to working together to protect and enhance Kansas’s natural resources,” stated Ethridge.
Financial caps on some practice payments have been increased or removed altogether for FY2024. Payment caps for heavy use areas, microirrigation irrigation systems, and sprinkler system practices have been removed. The practice payment cap for Pond will increase to $20,000. Concurrently,the practice of payment caps for Roofs/Covers will remain at $150/animal unit and waste transfer at $35,000/practice.
Contact your local NRCS office or conservation district office located at your local county USDA Service Center (listed in the telephone book under United States Government or on the internet at offices.usda.gov) for assistance. More information is also available on the Kansas website at www.ks.nrcs.usda.gov.
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. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.
