NRCS in the Caribbean Area Uses Streamlined Process to Accelerate High Demand Conservation Funding to Producers

Hato Rey, PR. April 11, 2024 – At a time of unprecedented producer demand, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has developed a faster process to deliver conservation funding to farmers, ranchers and forest landowners. Using its “Act Now” authority, NRCS can now pre-approve applications when they meet or exceed a state’s pre-determined minimum ranking score. This means funding decisions can be made without having to wait for all applications to be reviewed and ranked. This allows farmers to start conservation projects earlier instead of waiting long periods to know if a project will be funded.

“Producers are demanding conservation investments, and we are streamlining our processes to deliver faster. By using the Act Now process, NRCS can accelerate conservation on the ground to address energy efficiency, air quality, and carbon sequestration, among other projects in the Caribbean,” Caribbean Area Director Luis Cruz-Arroyo said. “The Act Now process is also utilized to help alleviate the effects of a natural disasters in the Caribbean.”

USDA previously announced that more than $3 billion is being made available nationally in 2024 through the Inflation Reduction Act for climate-smart mitigation activities, in addition to over $2 billion available through the Farm Bill. The investment through the Inflation Reduction Act represents the single largest investment in climate and clean energy solutions in American history.

Act Now gives NRCS the ability to make expedited funding decisions. Applications for eligible practices that meet or exceed state-determined minimum ranking thresholds will be considered for priority funding when applying to the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP). 

All EQIP and CSP applications are ranked and scored according to local resource concerns, the amount of conservation benefits the work will provide, and the needs of applicants. Both, EQIP and CSP have specific eligible Act Now funding pools, this means that no special application is required to qualify for funding through the Act Now process.

Eligible Act Now funding pools in the Caribbean include:

• EQIP Joint Chiefs Landscape Restoration Partnership
• EQIP Disaster/Emergency Relief
• EQIP Inflation Reduction Act Energy
• EQIP National Water Quality Initiative
• CSP Inflation Reduction Act AgLand
• CSP Inflation Reduction Act Non-Industrial Private Forest Land

State-determined minimum ranking thresholds for eligible practices are available on the Caribbean’s EQIP and CSP program pages. NRCS accepts producer applications for its conservation programs year-round, but to be considered for funding in the current fiscal year 2024 cycle, producers interested in EQIP or CSP should apply by their state’s specific program ranking dates.

To learn more about NRCS programs, producers can contact their local USDA Service Center. Producers can also apply for NRCS programs, manage conservation plans and contracts, and view and print conservation maps by logging into their farmers.gov account. Producers without an account can sign up today.

Under the Biden-Harris administration, USDA is engaged in a whole-of-government effort to combat the climate crisis and conserve and protect our nation’s lands, biodiversity, and natural resources including our soil, air, and water. Through conservation practices and partnerships, USDA aims to enhance economic growth and create new streams of income for farmers, ranchers, producers, and private foresters. Successfully meeting these challenges will require USDA and our agencies to pursue a coordinated approach alongside USDA stakeholders, including State, local, and Tribal governments.

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