The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS-Michigan), a division of the USDA, announced an application cut-off date of Dec. 2, 2022, for conservation financial assistance through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). EQIP provides conservation financial assistance to agricultural producers and private non-industrial forestland owners for a wide variety of conservation practices to address natural resource concerns.
Financial assistance is available to implement designated conservation practices that address identified natural resource concerns on the applicant’s operation. Examples of practices eligible for financial assistance include seasonal high tunnels (hoop houses), tree and shrub plantings, grazing plans, forest management plans, and other agriculture and wildlife related practices. Additional cutoff dates may be announced at a later date.
Historically underserved producers are eligible for advance payments to help offset costs related to purchasing materials or contracting services and receive higher payment rates. Regional Conservation Partnership Program and Forest Habitat Projects NRCS announced a cut-off date of Dec. 16, 2022, for its first selection of fiscal year 2023 funding through the Improving Forest Health for At-Risk Wildlife Resources Partnership. Conservation financial assistance is available to forestland owners in the Upper Peninsula and much of northern Michigan.
The Improving Forest Health for At-Risk Wildlife Resources Partnership was created through the USDA Regional Conservation Partnership Program and is administered by NRCS. Financial assistance is available for selected core conservation practices, including forest stand improvement and early successional habitat development and management. Additional supporting practices include; brush management and tree, shrub, and grass planting. In addition to improving habitat for at-risk species, many of these practices also improve habitat for other wildlife such as ruffed grouse and white-tailed deer.
Landowners in the Upper Peninsula and the Northern Michigan counties of Alcona, Alpena, Antrim, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Clare, Crawford, Emmet, Iosco, Kalkaska, Manistee, Missaukee, Montmorency, Ogemaw, Oscoda, Otsego, Presque Isle, Roscommon, and Wexford are eligible to apply.
For more information on either program or to set up a site visit, contact Kelly Sippl at 906-251-3064 or Kelly.Sippl@usda.gov
