The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), provisions of which are designed to help agricultural producers continue to farm and to promote climate-smart agriculture by increasing farmers’ access to conservation services, was signed into law on August 16, 2022.
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is now accepting applications to its Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) for funding in Fiscal Year 2023 using funds provided by the IRA. EQIP-IRA and CSP-IRA applications must include at least one core Climate Smart Agriculture and Forestry (CSAF) conservation practice or activity that directly improves soil carbon, reduces nitrogen losses, or reduces, captures, avoids or sequesters carbon dioxide, methane or nitrous emissions associated with agricultural productions. Facilitating practices or activities that are needed to implement the core practice may also be included.
Virginia NRCS' IRA focus for FY23 will include, but is not limited to:
- Improving energy efficiency of stationary equipment and facilities on agriculture operations to reduce energy use.
- Increasing total carbon stored in soils and/or perennial biomass to reduce atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide and enhance carbon sequestration.
Applications are available at your local USDA Service Center or online on our Get Started with NRCS web page and will be accepted until March 17, 2023. All applicants must have farm records established with USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA). Advance payment options are available for historically underserved producers.
Source : usda.gov