NRCS Missouri Announces First FY2024 Application Batching Date for Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) and Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)

The Missouri Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is announcing October 3, 2023, as the first batching date for applications submitted for Fiscal Year 2024 funding through either the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) or Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).

“NRCS-Missouri is wasting no time in FY24 connecting landowners with two of our most popular conservation programs,” said Acting State Conservationist Ashley Johnson. “CSP and EQIP are two cornerstone programs for NRCS, and it’s important that we connect landowners with financial and technical assistance.”

NRCS uses batching dates for CSP and EQIP as a tool to review, approve and fund applications at several points throughout the year, as opposed to a singular deadline. This ensures that farmers, ranchers and forest landowners looking to establish or enhance conservation practices on their land have several opportunities to receive funding during a fiscal year. NRCS accepts applications on a continuous basis, and applications received after a batching date will automatically be considered during future funding cycles.

Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP)

CSP is the nation’s largest conservation program in terms of participating land and is designed to help agricultural producers have more robust conservation activities. This program is designed to help producers take their conservation activities to the next level.

Through CSP, agricultural producers and forest landowners earn payments for actively managing, maintaining, and expanding conservation activities like cover crops, ecologically-based pest management, buffer strips, and pollinator and beneficial insect habitat – all while maintaining active agricultural or forest production on their land. CSP also encourages the adoption of new technologies and new management techniques such as irrigation monitoring, precision agriculture applications, improved grazing systems, on-site carbon storage and planting for high carbon sequestration rate, and new soil amendments to improve water quality.

Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)

EQIP is NRCS’ flagship conservation program that helps farmers, ranchers and forest landowners integrate conservation into working lands.

EQIP provides financial and technical assistance to address natural resource concerns and to deliver environmental benefits, such as improved water and air quality, conserve ground and surface water, reduced soil erosion and sedimentation, improved soil health and plant condition, and improved or created wildlife habitat.

How to Apply

Applications can be submitted at local USDA offices. NRCS will conduct an assessment and rank all applications received by the batching date. NRCS will fund applications in ranking order as funding allows.