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HAMILTON SQUARE, N.J., July 18, 2024 – The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural
Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in New Jersey is now accepting FY2025 applications for the
Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), climate-smart practices through EQIP funded by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), the Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA) program and the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP).
While NRCS accepts applications year-round, New Jersey producers and landowners should apply by
October 18, 2024 to be considered for funding in the current cycle.
The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)
Through EQIP, NRCS provides agricultural producers with one-on-one help and financial assistance to plan and implement conservation practices to address a variety of issues such as water quality degradation, soil erosion, soil quality degradation and inadequate habitat for fish and wildlife.
Special initiatives include:
- Working Lands for Wildlife (WLFW) – Golden Winged-Warbler
- The National Water Quality Initiative (NWQI) and
- The New Jersey Pine Barrens Joint Chiefs’ Landscape Restoration Partnership
o Forest landowners can verify their land is located within the target area by entering their address into the Pinelands Commission Interactive Map.
https://njpines.maps.arcgis.com/apps/ webappviewer/index.html id=28ef313eb49f4e8f96ca249d871d06fe&utm_medium=email&utm_ source=govdelivery
The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) – Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)
EQIP-IRA funds will provide direct climate mitigation benefits for producers to advance conservation through practices like cover cropping, conservation tillage, wetland restoration, prescribed grazing, nutrient management, tree planting and more.
See a list of eligible practices here. https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/sites/default/files/2023-02/IRA%20Practice%20and%20Activity%20List%20FY23.pdf?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery
Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA) Program
AMA is a voluntary conservation program available to beginning and limited resource farmers, small farms, and producers who have had limited participation in other USDA financial assistance programs. Producers eligible for AMA can apply for financial and technical assistance to voluntarily address resource issues such as water management, water quality, and erosion control by incorporating conservation into their farming operations.
The Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP)
Through RCPP, NRCS seeks to co-invest with partners to implement projects that demonstrate innovative solutions to conservation challenges and provide measurable improvements and outcomes tied to the resource concerns they seek to address. New Jersey’s RCPP land management projects are:
- Salem River Bog Turtle Protection and Restoration – Lead partner, New Jersey Audubon, will help private landowners increase wildlife habitat and habitat suitability for the endangered Bog Turtle population in the Upper Salem River Watershed by offering financial incentives to install and maintain conservation practices.
- Northern NJ Small Food Link Conservation Project – NRCS Partner, Urban Agriculture Cooperative, will deliver technical and financial assistance to new and historically underserved urban farmers in Northern N.J.
- Mine Brook Gorge Twin Dam Removals and Floodplain Restoration – Lead partner, Musconetcong
Watershed Association will work to restore habitat for native cold-water fishes, reduce stream temperatures, and enhance biodiversity in the Mine Brook Tributary and Gorge.
New Jersey Coastal Aquaculture – NRCS partner Ocean County SCD will lead this aquaculture project to
promote aquatic habitat on shellfish leases and enhance water quality throughout the coastal bays of New Jersey. Applications are available through your local USDA Service Center (https://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery) and online at https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/getting-assistance/getstarted-with-nrcs
While NRCS accepts applications year-round, if you apply after the program ranking date, your application will automatically be considered during future funding cycles.