The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Caribbean Area Director Luis Cruz-Arroyo announces the first sign-up period for fiscal year 2022 Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) and Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) funding to address farmers’ natural resource concerns.
The Environmental Quality Incentives Program is a voluntary conservation program that provides financial and technical assistance to farmers and ranchers to help install and implement conservation practices on eligible agricultural land. Through EQIP, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service helps farmers in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands to improve agricultural production and environmental quality.
The Conservation Service is a voluntary program that helps farmers build on conservation efforts while strengthening operations. Whether you are looking to improve grazing conditions, increase crop yields, or develop wildlife habitat, we can custom design a CSP plan to help you meet those goals.
Conservation Stewardship Program (NRCS) and EQIP applications are accepted year-round; however, NRCS sets application ‘cut-off’ or submission deadlines to evaluate, rank and approve eligible applications. The following are the cut-off dates for fiscal year 2022:
CSP and EQIP Period 1 cut-off date: Oct. 29, 2021
CSP and EQIP Period 2 cut-off date: April 29, 2022
For information on NRCS programs and services in the Caribbean Area visit www.pr.nrcs.usda.gov or contact the local USDA-NRCS office.