By Blake Jackson
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is streamlining the application process for eligible farmers and landowners participating in the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). This initiative, called Act Now, offers faster approval times for specific funding pools within EQIP.
EQIP is a program providing financial and technical assistance to address environmental concerns and deliver benefits like improved water and air quality, soil health, and wildlife habitat.
Act Now prioritizes applications within the Mississippi River Basin Healthy Watersheds Initiative (MRBI), National Water Quality Initiative (NWQI), and Socially Disadvantaged (SD) funding pools.
“Under the Act Now authority, eligible applicants receive automatic approval to proceed in the process, eliminating the need to wait for all applications to be ranked and preapproved within a given timeframe,” said NRCS Wisconsin State Conservationist, Nathan Fikkert, adding that this authority allows for applications to have a much shorter turnaround time, with contracts developed in just a few weeks.
Benefits of Act Now:
Faster Approvals: Eligible applications receive priority funding and can be approved much quicker than before.
Shorter Turnaround Time: Contracts can be developed in a matter of weeks, allowing producers to begin conservation projects sooner.
Continuous Application Process: Applications are accepted year-round, but for Act Now consideration in Fiscal Year 2025, applications need to be submitted by May 16, 2025.
How to Apply:
Producers interested in Act Now do not need to submit a separate application. They simply apply for EQIP within an eligible funding pool.
Applications are ranked based on local resource concerns, the potential environmental benefits, and the applicant's needs.
For more information and to find your local USDA Service Center, visit www.nrcs.usda.gov/contact/find-a-service-center.
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Categories: Wisconsin, Business