The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Georgia wants to remind agricultural producers about several new and expanded opportunities for conservation programs that lend to climate-smart agriculture production in fiscal year 2022. Among these is the Cover Crop Initiative (CCI), but signup for this ends January 25, 2022.
CCI incentivizes the use of cover crops on Georgia’s agricultural land, and the counties included in this targeted effort to improve soil health through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) are: Baker, Baldwin, Ben Hill, Bleckley, Bryan, Bulloch, Burke, Calhoun, Chatham, Coffee, Colquitt, Crawford, Crisp, Decatur, Dodge, Dooly, Dougherty, Early, Effingham, Emanuel, Glascock, Grady, Greene, Hancock, Houston, Irwin, Jeff Davis, Jefferson, Jenkins, Johnson, Jones, Laurens, Lee, Macon, Marion, Miller, Mitchell, Montgomery, Peach, Pulaski, Schley, Screven, Seminole, Sumter, Taliaferro, Taylor, Telfair, Treutlen, Turner, Twiggs, Warren, Washington, Wheeler, Wilcox, Wilkinson and Worth.
Through this initiative, NRCS can support the goals of agricultural producers and increase the critical environmental benefits that cover crops provide.
While NRCS does accept applications for conservation programs year-round, to be included in this funding period producers need to contact their local USDA Service Center to apply by January 25th. Learn more on the NRCS Cover Crops and Soil Health webpage.