USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service - Services
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This presentation was given by Casey Iames, District Conservationist for Fauquier, Prince William, Loudoun and Fairfax counties, at The Piedmont Environmental Council's Sources of Conservation Funding Workshop on July 20, 2023.
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USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service - Services
- 1. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. Making Conservation Work for You Getting Started with NRCS
- 2. Who We Are and What We Do The NRCS is the USDAs principal agency for providing conservation technical assistance to private landowners, conservation districts, tribes and other organizations.
- 3. NRCS Emphasizes Science-based technical assistance Partnerships Voluntary, incentive- based programs Cooperative problem solving at the local level
- 4. Technical Assistance: Whats Your Vision? Our advice is free, and we even come to you! We walk the property, talk about what youre doing and offer suggestions for your consideration.
- 6. Do You Have a Resource Concern? A resource concern is a threat to or degradation of your soil, water, air, plant, or animal resources to an extent that their sustainability or intended use is impaired. NRCS quantifies or describes resource concerns as part of a comprehensive conservation planning process that includes client objectives as well as human and energy resources.
- 7. Financial Assistance to Reach Your Goals Once you have a plan, we help you understand Farm Bill Programs and consider options for financial assistance. If you own the land and are new to our programs, youll need to take a copy of your deed and plat to the Farm Service Agency (FSA) to get a Farm and Tract number.
- 8. Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) Grazing Land Crop Land Forest Land
- 9. Wildlife Programs At least 50 percent of available FY2022 EQIP funds is allocated to livestock-related resource concerns. A minimum of 10 percent must be committed for wildlife concerns. Four target species under Working Lands for Wildlife: American Black Duck, Bobwhite Quail, Golden-Winged Warbler and Eastern Hellbender
- 10. High Tunnel System (Practice 325) Helps producers extend the growing season by starting plants earlier in the Spring and growing later into the Fall. One-time incentive payment made when the practice is established according to manufacturers specifications. Applicants may not fabricate their own high tunnels.
- 11. Urban Agriculture Special high tunnel fund pool added in FY2022 to support beginning farmers and urban growers Financial assistance to support implementation of three designated urban ag practices (high tunnels, cover crops and mulching)
- 12. Veteran farmers who are also new or beginning farmers receive a higher payment rate and will be funded first. Preference will be given to eligible veteran farmers or ranchers applying for financial assistance through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP). Equal Access for All: Veteran Farmers
- 13. Equal Access for All: Underserved Audiences Targeted funding is available for: Federally recognized tribes New and beginning farmers Socially Disadvantaged Growers Producers in persistent high- poverty counties (Strikeforce)
- 14. Climate-Smart Agriculture Working through the Virginia Soil Health Coalition to engage more partners in promoting sustainable practices that support mitigation and adaption to climate change. Unveiled new EQIP Conservation Incentive Contract (CIC) offering focused on prescribed grazing in FY2022.
- 15. EQIP Timeline Though we take applications throughout the year, we announce signup periods to make funding decisions at specific times. (Dont wait until the last day to submit an application). Funding approvals typically happen within two weeks of ranking. Program Signups Review & Ranking Funding Approvals Practice Installation Inspection & Payments
- 16. Next Steps Farm visit to assess resource concerns and practice location Application for financial assistance programs Eligibility confirmation (tax ID, control of the land, farm tract number from USDA Farm Service Agency) Application review and scoring based on environmental benefits Funding decision and letter to proceed with the preapproval Contract prepared, reviewed and signed Clock starts on one-year deadline to start the practice
- 17. State Office: (804) 287-1691 Area I Office: (540) 434-1404 Area II Office: (540) 585-3650 Area III Office: (434) 392-4171 Area IV Office: (757) 357-7004 Visit www.va.nrcs.usda.gov/ to look up the number for your local office.
- 18. An Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination against its customers. If you believe you experienced discrimination when obtaining services from USDA, participating in a USDA program, or participating in a program that receives financial assistance from USDA, you may file a complaint with USDA. Information about how to file a discrimination complaint is available from the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights. USDA prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex (including gender identity and expression), marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, political beliefs, genetic information, reprisal, or because all or part of an individuals income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) To file a complaint of discrimination, complete, sign and mail a program discrimination complaint form, available at any USDA office location or online at www.ascr.usda.gov, or write to: USDA Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W. Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 Or call toll free at (866) 632-9992 (voice) to obtain additional information, the appropriate office or to request documents. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay service at (800) 877-8339 or (800) 845-6136 (in Spanish). USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).