On February 13, 2023, the USDA announced the release of IRA funding for agricultural producers and forest landowners nationwide to participate in voluntary conservation programs and adopt climate-smart practices. The IRA appropriated $19.5 billion in additional funding for several programs being implemented by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). NRCS is now able to make available $850 million in fiscal year 2023 for the following oversubscribed conservation programs: the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, Conservation Stewardship Program, Agricultural Conservation Easement Program, and Regional Conservation Partnership Program.
The IRA funding includes the appropriation of $300 million for the quantification of carbon sequestration and greenhouse gases via collection of field-based data. This will provide information needed to assess conservation outcomes.
This increased funding is expected to support farmers and ranchers in conservation efforts through practices like cover cropping, conservation tillage, wetland restoration, prescribed grazing, nutrient management, and tree planting. The funding will provide direct climate mitigation benefits while offering producers financial and technical assistance in conservation practices.