The USDA/NRCS has five main programs that offer funds for tree planting and agroforestry. They are the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP), the Wetland Reserve Program (WRP), the Conservation Security Program (CSP), and the Conservation Reserve Program(CRP).
- Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). – EQIP helps agricultural producers and forest landowners with addressing natural resource concerns. This aid can be in the form of technical and financial help.
- Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) – is a voluntary program for people who want to develop and improve wildlife habitat on private land.. These include upland wildlife habitat, wetland wildlife habitat, habitat for threatened and endangered species, fish habitat, and other types of wildlife habitat approved by the NRCS.
- Wetland Reserve Program (WRP) – Helps private and tribal landowners protect, restore and enhance wetlands degraded through agricultural uses. Wetland Reserve Easements is a component of the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program. It provides habitat for migratory waterfowl and other wetland-dependent wildlife. Successful projects help improve water quality, reduce flooding, and increase biodiversity. They also provide opportunities for educational, scientific, and limited recreational activities.
- ConservationStewardship Program (CSP).– A CSP plan. can help you improve grazing conditions, increase crop resiliency, or develop wildlife habitat. Technical and financial aid is available to help solve natural resource problems.
- Conservation Reserve Program (CRP).– Farm Service Agency (FSA) administers this land conservation program. CRP is one of the largest private lands conservation programs in the United States. Created in 1985, this program has achieved significant goals in conservation and sustainability with farmers and landowners.
USDA encourages landowners enrolled in CRP to learn more about FSA’s Forest Management Initiative (FMI). CRP participants with forest cover can apply for more aid to improve the health of their forests.
CRP enrollment options include General CRP, Grassland CRP and Continuous CRP. The Continuous CRP signup also includes options, such as CLEAR30, State Acres For Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE), Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program, and Farmable Wetlands Program.
Since 2021, FSA has taken steps to improve the program. These include higher payment rates, new incentives, and disaster relief. There is also a more targeted focus on CRP’s role in alleviating climate change. FSA introduced a new climate-smart incentive for General CRP and Continuous CRP. The incentive rewards participants who use conservation practices that increase carbon sequestration. To learn more about updates to CRP, read the “What’s New with CRP” fact sheet.
More incentives for agroforestry projects
- Organic Certification Cost Share Programs. – OCCSP provides cost-sharing to producers and handlers of organic agricultural products. Participants must be obtaining or renewing certification under the National Organic Program(NOP). Certified operations may receive up to 75 percent of their certification costs. This would amount to $750 per certification during the program year.
- Agricultural Management Assistance Program (AMA). – This program helps agricultural producers manage financial risk. AMA plans may include diversification, marketing, or natural resource conservation practices. Financial aid provided up to 75% of the cost of installing conservation practices. This program is available in the 16 states with low participation in the Federal Crop Insurance Program. These states are Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming.
- Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) – This program helps landowners protect the agricultural viability and conservation values of farms and ranches. It uses conservation easements to protect, restore, and enhance wetlands. Projects also limit non-agricultural uses that have negative impacts on conservation and agriculture.
Native species are important to our mission to ‘restore Earth’s ecosystem one tree at a time’. They are also key to helping execute successful restoration projects of any scope.
Contact a team member during the planning phase of your tree planting and agroforestry projects. We can give recommendations and information on native plant availability.
Forrest Keeling… it’s where the best trees begin!