Mo. Producers Urged to Apply for USDA Conservation Programs
TL/DR –
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is encouraging agricultural producers and forest landowners in Missouri to participate in its voluntary conservation program, Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). The program, managed by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), provides funding and assistance to a variety of producers, including organic and urban producers. For fiscal year 2025, the NRCS has funding available through the Farm Bill and the Inflation Reduction Act for initiatives such as climate-smart mitigation activities, organic and urban agriculture, soil health improvement, water quality and quantity management, and wildlife habitat development.
USDA Conservation Programs: Environmental Quality Incentives Program
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is motivating agricultural producers and forest landowners in Missouri to take part in their voluntary conservation programs. USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is currently accepting applications for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), designed to cater to a wide range of producers such as urban and organic.
The Missouri State Conservationist, Scott Edwards, encourages all with natural resource concerns to apply, stating “We are currently offering a historic amount of funding through both the Farm Bill and the Inflation Reduction Act.”
For 2025, NRCS has Inflation Reduction Act funds for investment in climate-smart mitigation activities. Moreover, Farm Bill funding is available for organic, urban agriculture, soil health, water quality and quantity, and wildlife habitat development.
Organic Agriculture
The NRCS offers technical and financial assistance for popular conservation practices among organic and traditional producers. These include cover crops, integrated pest management, drip irrigation, high tunnels, and rotational grazing.
Urban Agriculture
The NRCS also provides assistance for practices popular among urban farmers including high tunnels, soil health management systems, composting, irrigation, and pest management. Further information can be found on the NRCS’ Urban Agriculture page.
The Inflation Reduction Act, considered the largest climate investment in history, increases access to conservation assistance as part of its promotion for climate-smart agriculture. For more details on available assistance, contact your local USDA Service Center or visit www.mo.nrcs.usda.gov.
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