USDA announces additional application ranking date for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program in Massachusetts
November 19th is now the next ranking cut-off date
AMHERST, Mass., Oct. 15, 2021 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has added November 19, 2021 as an application ranking cut-off date for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) in Massachusetts. EQIP offers financial and technical assistance to private owners and managers of agricultural land and forestland to address natural resource concerns.
Farmland and forestland operators and owners who are interested in applying for assistance through EQIP should contact their local NRCS office for more information and to begin the conservation planning process. NRCS develops conservation plans which evaluate resource concerns, while considering the land management goals of the operation.
“If you operate a farm or manage forest land and want to improve your land, we can help,” said Dan Wright, State Conservationist for NRCS in Massachusetts. “You can discuss your vision for your land with one of our conservation planners, who will explain the conservation planning process and how to apply for financial assistance.”
You may apply for NRCS conservation programs at any time. Complete applications are ranked for funding in batches periodically throughout the year. In Massachusetts, NRCS is offering five batching periods for EQIP. Fiscal year 2022 cut-off dates are: November 19, 2021, and January 21, March 18, May 20 and July 15 of 2022.
All applications determined eligible and high priority by close of business on a given ranking date will be considered in the current funding cycle. All NRCS programs are voluntary.
Ranking dates and the application process are subject to change. Contact your local field office for the latest information. For more information on available programs, the application process, and natural resource priorities, visit the Massachusetts NRCS website at www.ma.nrcs.usda.gov.
NRCS has seven field offices in Massachusetts:
Greenfield field office – 413-772-0384, ext 3, serving Franklin County
Hadley field office – 413-585-1000, ext 3, serving Hampden and Hampshire counties
Holden field office – 508-829-4477, ext 3, serving Worcester County
Pittsfield field office – 413-443-1776, ext 3, serving Berkshire County
Westford field office – 978-692-1904, ext 3, serving Essex, Middlesex and Suffolk counties
Wareham field office – 508-295-5151, ext 2, serving Bristol, Norfolk and Plymouth counties
West Yarmouth field office – 508-771-6476, serving Cape Cod and the Islands
EQIP provides financial and technical assistance to agricultural producers and forest landowners to address natural resource concerns through an array of conservation practices. Assistance is available to support private landowners and managers in addressing farm, field, forest, wildlife, water, and/or plant management issues including:
Erosioncontrol
Farmand forestry conservation plans
Fencingfor grazing systems
Foreststand improvement
Grazingplans
Irrigationsystems
Pastureand hayland planting
Pollinatorhabitat
Protectionof heavy use areas for livestock
Restorationand management of declining habitat
Riparianbuffers
Seasonalhigh tunnels
Soilhealth management plans
Wastestorage facilities
Wildlifehabitat management and development
Some of the EQIP funding will be provided to farmers and forest landowners via the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), which encourages partner organizations to join in efforts with producers to increase the restoration and sustainable use of soil, water, wildlife and related natural resources on regional or watershed scales. Through the RCPP program, NRCS and its partners help producers install and maintain conservation activities in selected project areas. Partners leverage RCPP funding in project areas and report on the benefits achieved.
NRCS is a federal agency that works hand-in-hand with conservation districts and the people of Massachusetts to improve and protect soil, water and other natural resources.