This presentation was given by Casey Iames, District Conservationist for Fauquier, Prince William, Loudoun and Fairfax counties, at The Piedmont Environmental Council's Sources of Conservation Funding Workshop on July 20, 2023.

1. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.
Making Conservation
Work for You
Getting Started with NRCS

2. Who We Are and What We Do
The NRCS​ is the USDA’s principal agency for providing conservation
technical assistance to private landowners, conservation districts, tribes
and other organizations.

3. NRCS
Emphasizes
• Science-based
technical assistance
• Partnerships
• Voluntary, incentive-
based programs
• Cooperative problem
solving at the local level

4. Technical Assistance:
What’s Your Vision?
• Our advice is free, and
we even come to you!
• We walk the property, talk
about what you’re doing
and offer suggestions for
your consideration.

6. Do You Have a
Resource Concern?
• A resource concern is a threat to or
degradation of your soil, water, air,
plant, or animal resources to an extent
that their sustainability or intended use
is impaired.
• NRCS quantifies or describes resource
concerns as part of a comprehensive
conservation planning process that
includes client objectives as well as
human and energy resources.

7. Financial Assistance
to Reach Your Goals
• Once you have a plan, we help
you understand Farm Bill
Programs and consider options
for financial assistance.
• If you own the land and are new
to our programs, you’ll need to
take a copy of your deed and plat
to the Farm Service Agency (FSA)
to get a Farm and Tract number.

8. Environmental Quality
Incentives Program (EQIP)
Grazing Land
Crop Land
Forest Land

9. Wildlife Programs
• At least 50 percent of available FY2022 EQIP funds
is allocated to livestock-related resource concerns.
• A minimum of 10 percent must be committed for
wildlife concerns.
• Four target species under Working Lands for
Wildlife: American Black Duck, Bobwhite Quail,
Golden-Winged Warbler and Eastern Hellbender

10. High Tunnel System
(Practice 325)
• Helps producers extend
the growing season by
starting plants earlier in
the Spring and growing
later into the Fall.
• One-time incentive payment
made when the practice is
established according to
manufacturer’s specifications.
• Applicants may not fabricate
their own high tunnels.

11. Urban Agriculture
• Special high tunnel fund
pool added in FY2022 to
support beginning farmers
and urban growers
• Financial assistance to
support implementation of
three designated urban ag
practices (high tunnels,
cover crops and mulching)

12. • Veteran farmers who are also new or
beginning farmers receive a higher
payment rate and will be funded first.
• Preference will be given to eligible
veteran farmers or ranchers applying
for financial assistance through the
Environmental Quality Incentives
Program (EQIP) and the Conservation
Stewardship Program (CSP).
Equal Access for All: Veteran Farmers

13. Equal Access for All: Underserved Audiences
Targeted funding is available for:
• Federally recognized tribes
• New and beginning farmers
• Socially Disadvantaged
Growers
• Producers in persistent high-
poverty counties (Strikeforce)

14. Climate-Smart Agriculture
• Working through the Virginia Soil Health Coalition to
engage more partners in promoting sustainable
practices that support mitigation and adaption to
climate change.
• Unveiled new EQIP Conservation Incentive Contract
(CIC) offering focused on prescribed grazing in
FY2022.

15. EQIP Timeline
• Though we take applications throughout the year, we announce
signup periods to make funding decisions at specific times. (Don’t
wait until the last day to submit an application).
• Funding approvals typically happen within two weeks of ranking.
Program Signups
Review & Ranking
Funding Approvals
Practice Installation
Inspection & Payments

16. Next Steps …
• Farm visit to assess resource
concerns and practice location
• Application for financial
assistance programs
• Eligibility confirmation (tax ID,
control of the land, farm tract
number from USDA Farm
Service Agency)
• Application review and scoring
based on environmental benefits
• Funding decision and letter to
proceed with the preapproval
• Contract prepared, reviewed
and signed
• Clock starts on one-year
deadline to start the practice

17. State Office: (804) 287-1691
Area I Office: (540) 434-1404
Area II Office: (540) 585-3650
Area III Office: (434) 392-4171
Area IV Office: (757) 357-7004
Visit www.va.nrcs.usda.gov/ to look up the
number for your local office.

18. An Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination against its customers. If you believe you experienced
discrimination when obtaining services from USDA, participating in a USDA program, or participating in a program that receives
financial assistance from USDA, you may file a complaint with USDA. Information about how to file a discrimination complaint is
available from the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights.
USDA prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and
where applicable, sex (including gender identity and expression), marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual
orientation, political beliefs, genetic information, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any
public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.)
To file a complaint of discrimination, complete, sign and mail a program discrimination complaint form, available at any USDA
office location or online at www.ascr.usda.gov, or write to:
USDA
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410
Or call toll free at (866) 632-9992 (voice) to obtain additional information, the appropriate office or to request documents.
Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay service at (800)
877-8339 or (800) 845-6136 (in Spanish). USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (e.g., Braille, large print,
audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).