New Hampshire Natural Resources Conservation Service Announces Additional EQIP Signup for Select Cheshire County Producers

Apr 21, 2025

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in New Hampshire announced a limited sign-up under the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) for orchard operations in Cheshire County. This additional funding will specifically target conservation activities on fruit orchards in Cheshire County, New Hampshire. 

Applications are due by May 20, 2025. 

All applications need to be received by this date to be considered for this targeted round of funding.

If your current conservation needs do not meet the above criteria, NRCS, N.H. encourages farmers and local nonindustrial private forest landowners to start the planning process now for next fiscal year.

“By having a conservation plan in place or updated based on your current operation, producers can more readily apply for financial assistance programs,” explains Becky Ross, State Conservationist for NRCS in New Hampshire. “It ultimately makes the process much more fluid.”

Establishing farm records with the Farm Service Agency (FSA) is a necessary step to be eligible for USDA financial assistance programs through FSA or NRCS. By registering your farm with the FSA, you will have access to Farm Bill programs available to support your operation. This includes conservation programs offered through NRCS, as well as farm loans and other financial assistance offered through the FSA.

How to Apply

Assistance is only a phone call away. NRCS and FSA staff are ready to answer your questions, work to ensure your success with USDA Farm Bill programs, and address conservation concerns on your land. Find your local office contact information here: farmers.gov/service-locator.

With new technology in place, many required documents can now be signed virtually, right from a smart phone or computer, significantly reducing mailing delays and trips to the local service center. This helps keep producers where they need to be – in the field and on the farm.

While NRCS New Hampshire has set the official program application cutoff for this round of EQIP as May 20, 2025, NRCS accepts program applications year-round on a continuous basis. Cutoff dates are necessary for the agency to assess and rank applications against each other for funding, based on their potential conservation impact. Any application received, that does not meet the criteria for open funding announcements can be deferred for consideration in Fiscal Year 2026, which begins October 1, 2025.

For more information on NRCS Farm Bill programs, you can visit the NRCS, New Hampshire website here: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/NewHampshire

Source : usda.gov
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