On September 18, 2024, USDA announced that the Natural Resources Conservation Service in New Jersey is accepting applications for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) for fiscal year 2025. EQIP provides technical and financial assistance to farmers and forest landowners. The IRA-funded portion of EQIP provides “climate mitigation benefits for producers to advance conservation through practices like cover cropping, conservation tillage, wetland restoration, prescribed grazing, nutrient management, tree planting and more.” Applications are due by October 18, 2024 but those submitted after that date will be considered on a rolling basis for future funding terms.
A portion of the EQIP program is funded by IRA section 21001, which appropriates funds to support climate smart agricultural conservation investments.