Article Summary –
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Texas has opened a second sign-up for the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) for fiscal year 2024, accepting applications until June 21, 2024. The program aims to assist farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners in enhancing their conservation efforts, with an emphasis on climate and clean energy. Applications will be evaluated and prioritized based on a minimum ranking score of 15, determined by local resource concerns, conservation benefits, and applicant needs; this system allows funding decisions to be made more quickly and enables farmers to commence conservation projects sooner.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Texas branch has launched a second round of applications for the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) for Fiscal Year 2024. Applications are open until June 21, 2024.
This application period is supported by Act Now, enabling NRCS to immediately approve applications that meet or surpass a state-determined minimum ranking score of 15.
CSP is designed to help farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners enhance their existing conservation efforts and strengthen their operations. The program provides an annual payment for five years, encouraging a higher level of conservation and stewardship. The CSP-IRA primarily targets climate and clean energy.
While NRCS accepts applications year-round, to qualify for this funding round, applications must be submitted by June 21, 2024. Applications received after this date will be considered for the following funding period.
NRCS has streamlined the approval process for producer applications through its “Act Now” authority. Applications that meet or surpass the minimum ranking score of 15 will be prioritized for funding in Texas.
This new process allows funding decisions to be made swiftly, enabling farmers to commence conservation projects sooner rather than having to wait for all applications to be reviewed and ranked.
Interested producers, landowners, and forest managers should contact their local NRCS service center. Applicants are urged to schedule an appointment with their local Farm Service Agency county office to apply for NRCS programs and update their records.
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, lender, and employer.
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