AHOSKIE, N.C., November 9, 2023—Farmers and woodland owners who want to take advantage of a new round of conservation assistance available from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) can seek help through several programs. NRCS provides technical and financial assistance to North Carolina landowners through a variety of programs to support various land uses, including cropland, pastureland, forestland, wildlife and aquatic.
The NRCS office in North Carolina accepts applications year-round; however, an application reception deadline has been established in order to proceed with the office’s current allocation for fiscal year 2024. The application reception deadlines for its current program opportunities are as follows:
- Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) – December 1
- Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) – January 12, 2024
“NC NRCS is making tremendous strides to provide financial assistance to the producers in the state. In FY2023 we were able to aware more than $57 million to producers to address natural resource concerns on their operation,” said Julius George, assistant state conservationist for programs. “All landowners are encouraged to establish a relationship with their local NRCS personnel and apply for assistance through the numerous programs we have available.”
ACEP helps landowners, land trusts and other entities protect, restore and enhance wetlands or protect working farms and ranches through conservation easements. The program helps state and local governments, nongovernmental organizations and others protect working agricultural lands and limit non-agricultural uses of the land. Landowners who enroll in ACEP retain private ownership of their land but must follow certain land use requirements.
CSP offers technical and financial assistance to help agricultural and forest producers take their conservation efforts to the next level. The program is designed to compensate agricultural and forest producers who agree to increase their level of conservation by adopting additional conservation activities and maintaining their baseline level of conservation.
Another popular program for which producers are encouraged to apply is the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). EQIP provides financial and technical assistance to agricultural producers and non-industrial forest managers to address natural resource concerns and deliver environmental benefits such as improved water and air quality, conserved ground and surface water, increased soil health and reduced soil erosion and sedimentation, improved or created wildlife habitat, and mitigation against drought and increasing weather volatility. It supports forestry practices that include tree planting, site preparation, timber stand improvement, prescribed burning, pre-commercial thinning, wildlife habitat and a host of other forestry management practices. EQIP offers financial assistance at 75 and 90 percent for eligible program participants. Participants that meet the criteria of Historically Underserved (HU) will receive the 90 percent financial assistance rate. Participants and/or entities that qualify as HU must meet one of the following categories: New and Beginning Farmers and Ranchers, Socially Disadvantaged, Limited Resource Farmers, and Veteran Farmers.
Alton Perry, director of the Sustainable Forestry and Land Retention Project that partners with the NRCS in North Carolina, encourages forestry landowners to contact him if they have questions about program assistance opportunities and/or the management of their forestland.
“NRCS offers an array of programs that can make a meaningful difference for landowners and their property and its habitats,” Perry said. “I hope that woodland and farm owners desiring to increase the productivity and health of their property will take the time to determine whether the programs can help them achieve their goals and, if so, apply in a timely manner.”
Established in 2013 with support from Roanoke Cooperative and other organizations, SFLRP helps families in 13 counties in northeastern North Carolina increase the income and asset value of family-owned forestland and encourages forest health, land retention and the opportunity to create intergenerational wealth. Perry can be reached at 252-539-4614 or aperry@roanokecooperative.com.
More information about financial and technical assistance available to help North Carolina farmers and other landowners improve and protect their land can be found at www.nc.nrcs.usda.gov.
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