Sign Up Sooner, Not Later, for USDA Conservation Programs

[admin]

Sign Up Sooner, Not Later, for USDA Conservation Programs Madison, Wis…… Many farmers don’t realize that most of the USDA conservation programs are open for sign-up at any time, continuously, not just for a few weeks each year. Most of the programs offered by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) are open year-round for applications, according to Pat Leavenworth, NRCS State Conservationist for Wisconsin. “For example, you can make an appointment and sign-up for costsharing through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) at any time throughout the year,” says Leavenworth. Those applications are held until an annual ranking date is announced, then all applications that NRCS has received to date will be ranked for funding that year.Frequently, the ranking dates are in the winter, and farmers rush to sign up when the ranking date is announced. However, this is Wisconsin and the snow cover makes it difficult for the NRCS staff to get a good look at the land and add all needed practices. Funding may not be available in the spring to add anything that was missed, but that can be avoided by signing up earlier.In 2011, Wisconsin farmers contracted for over $17 million in conservation projects through EQIP. An additional $750,000 was received in July that will be used to address some of the unfunded applications in backlog for EQIP and tribal conservation. The Conservation Stewardship Program will pay over $10 million this year to the 1500 participating CSP farmers.Call now for an appointment to talk about conservation options for your farm. More information on NRCS programs is available at www.wi.nrcs.usda.gov under Programs.