Some of the most common questions we receive in UGA Cooperative Extension offices relate to funding opportunities for new and existing farmers. There are two organizations that can usually help individuals who have questions about agricultural grants and loans- the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Farm Service Agency. A common funding source through the NRCS are its Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) grants, for which applications are due on November 5th.
The EQIP program is made to provide technical and financial help to qualified agriculture producers and forest managers. The ultimate goal is to help producers implement conservation practices that preserve natural resources for the future while improving their overall operation. Benefits of conservation practices that are implemented through EQIP are reduced contamination from agricultural operations, efficient nutrient usage, reduced nonpoint source pollution, increased soil health, clean air and water, and better wildlife habitat.
There are five steps to getting assistance from the NRCS. The process begins with a free consultation with an NRCS conservationist. These individuals will work with you to assess the conservation needs of our region and your land, identify opportunities for improvement, determine conservation objectives, and recommend solutions. Second, you’ll need to complete an application and determine your eligibility for cost-sharing or grant assistance. Then, the NRCS ranks applications based on local resource concerns. If selected as a funding recipient, you will then work with NRCS to implement the conservation practices identified for your operation.
Funding for the EQIP program was originally established under the 1996 Farm Bill and was re-signed in 2018 as the “Agriculture Improvement Act” or Farm Bill. The November 5th deadline is a general EQIP deadline, but other special initiatives due include Longleaf Pine, On-Farm Energy, organics, Seasonal High Tunnel, and Working Lands for Wildlife. Some of the things you might need in order to be eligible for funding are: USDA records, farm number, tract number, crops reported, filed/updated AD-106, filed/updated CCC-941, filed/updated CCC-902, crop and production records, irrigation history, and animal records. If you are a historically underserved individual, i.e. beginner, socially disadvantaged, limited resource, or military veteran, there may be additional opportunities that you quality for.
The NRCS and EQIP programs can be an excellent resource for new and existing farmers alike. In order to get the best and most accurate information on current programs and your eligibility, please contact our closest NRCS office in Wilkes County at 706-678-2530 to speak with their staff.
