NRCS Nevada Announces Additional EQIP Signup for 2024 IRA Funding

Natural Resources Conservation Service in Nevada announces additional funding opportunities for farmers and ranchers in Fiscal Year 2024. The third ranking signup period is for Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) funding under the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). Nevada has approximately $8 million available to producers.

The local field office must receive applications for EQIP before 4 p.m. on May 31, 2024. Applications received after this deadline will be considered for funding during the next funding cycle.

EQIP is a voluntary, technical, and financial assistance program designed to help farmers, ranchers, forestland owners, and Tribes with conservation measures focusing on carbon sequestration, greenhouse gas emissions, reduced energy, and soil health. The program focuses strongly on conservation planning, implementation, and solving natural resource concerns related to climate change. Conservation practices are limited to those listed in the Climate-Smart Agriculture and Forestry Mitigation Activities List.

IRA enables USDA to get more financial assistance to producers for conservation than ever before. In fiscal year 2023, USDA supported more than 45,000 conservation contracts, more than any year in the 89-year history of USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, totaling over $2.8 billion in financial assistance to producers for conservation efforts nationwide. NRCS is seeking to benefit both the climate, by reducing greenhouse gas emissions; and the producer, by improving access to programs and providing financial and technical assistance to improve their farm, ranch, urban operation or forest land. Learn more about NRCS Climate-Smart Mitigation Activities on the NRCS website.

Historically underserved (HU) participants, including limited resource farmers and ranchers, beginning farmers and ranchers, socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers, and veteran farmers and ranchers, are eligible for advance payments to help offset costs related to purchasing materials or contracting services through EQIP. HU participants may elect to receive an advance of not less than 50 percent of the EQIP conservation practice payment amount. Participants who receive advance payment must expend the funds within 90 days of receiving the advance.

Water management entities who assist private agricultural producers with managing water distribution or conservation systems can also apply for EQIP. These entities are defined as a State, irrigation district, groundwater management district, acequia, land grant-merced, or similar entity that has jurisdiction or responsibilities related to water delivery or management to eligible lands.

Contact your local NRCS office to learn more about EQIP or other programs. Office locations can be found at https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/conservation-basics/conservation-by-state/nevada and selecting the Nevada Service Center Map.