The following information is communication from Allison Rivera, Executive Director of Government Affairs at
National Cattlemen’s Beef Association in Washington, D.C.
Since Congress did not pass an extension of the current Farm Bill when it expired at midnight on September 30th, some programs have expired and/or run out of funding. EQIP was funded through 2019 via previous appropriations. The NCBA team has spoken to Jimmy Bramblett, the Deputy Chief for Programs at NRCS to get a better idea on the details of other conservation programs and funding. A memo from USDA was sent to state conservationists providing information on applications, eligibility, and additional guidance. The guidance also provides state and county offices with timing flexibility. NRCS has limited contract renewals to uncontroversial programs that are not the subject of Farm Bill conference negotiations. Funding for these contract renewals came from a funding extension put in place last year. The extension applies only to EQIP contracts.
**The following NRCS programs are impacted as follows since the current Farm Bill has expired:
Conservation Stewardship Program
Environmental Quality Incentives Program
Agricultural Conservation Easement Program
Regional Conservation Partnership Program
These are the pots of money that state NRCS offices have available until further notice:
National Air Quality Initiative
National On-Farm Energy Initiative
National Organic Initiative
High Tunnel System
StrikeForce Initiative
Joint Chief’s Landscape Restoration Initiative
Great Lakes Restoration Initiative
Honey Bee Pollinator Initiative
Long Leaf Pine Initiative
Mississippi River Basin Healthy Watersheds Initiative
National Water Quality Initiative
Working Lands for Wildlife
Monarch Butterfly Habitat Development Project
Disaster Relief Funding
Conservation Activity Plans
Watersmart
Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Program
RCPP-EQIP only under the following conditions:
The agreement does not contain CSP
It is an existing agreement from FY15, FY16, or FY17 (agreements pending execution are not eligible)
Please check with your local NRCS or FSA office for your specific programs and situation.