The past couple of years, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) continued its conservation work helping agricultural producers and forest landowners implement conservation practices on their working lands. These NRCS efforts helped conserve natural resources like soil, water and wildlife while delivering climate solutions and boosting producers’ bottom lines.
NRCS provided targeted funding for climate-smart agriculture and forestry conservation practices through its conservation programs and made improvements in nutrient management, all while prioritizing assistance for underserved producers and urban and innovative production.
Through both the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) and Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG), NRCS co-invested $580 million with partners, expanding the reach and improving the effectiveness of conservation. For both RCPP and CIG, NRCS prioritized projects focused on underserved producers and climate-smart agriculture and forestry.
Last year, NRCS invested $50 million in 118 partnerships to expand access to conservation assistance for climate-smart agriculture and forestry. The Equity Conservation Cooperative Agreementsfunded two-year projects to expand the delivery of conservation assistance to farmers who are new to farming, low income, socially disadvantaged or military veterans.
This year, NRCS continues to prioritize climate-smart agriculture and forestry conservation practices through funding provided by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), as well as improved access and outreach to underserved and urban producers.
Visit the NRCS Priorities webpage to learn more.