The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Georgia is encouraging Agricultural producers and forest landowners looking to build on previous conservation efforts and building climate resiliency to consider one of two funding opportunities available to them this year. NRCS is offering the statewide Classic Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) sign-up through March 31, 2023.
CSP-Classic provides many benefits, including increased crop yields, decreased inputs, wildlife habitat improvements and increased resilience to adverse weather. CSP is for working lands, including cropland, pastureland, rangeland, nonindustrial private forest land and agricultural land under Indian tribe jurisdiction.
NRCS is offering the statewide Classic CSP sign-up option for all producers in Georgia, as well as a targeted sign-up utilizing funding from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).
For the CSP-IRA funded portion of this year’s sign-up, agricultural producers in Baker, Calhoun, Decatur, Dougherty, Early, Grady, Miller, Mitchell, and Seminole counties can apply for Soil Health focused practices and enhancements. Whereas producers and forest landowners in Bleckley, Dodge, Emmanuel, Johnson, Laurens, Montgomery, Toombs, Treutlen, Twiggs, Washington, Wheeler, and Wilkinson counties can apply for Agroforestry, Forestry and Upland Wildlife Habitat practices and enhancements.
NRCS does accept applications for conservation programs year-round, but to be included in this funding batch, interested producers should contact their local USDA Service Center by March 31, 2023.