USDA Offers $1.5 Billion to Advance Conservation, Climate-Smart Agriculture

Damarys Mortenson, State Conservationist for USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Indiana announced the availability of an historic $1.5 billion nationwide in fiscal year 2024 to invest in partner driven conservation and climate solutions through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). Indiana NRCS is accepting project proposals now through July 2 that will help farmers and forest landowners adopt and expand conservation strategies to enhance natural resources while tackling the climate crisis. These projects, in turn, can save farmers money, create new revenue streams, and increase productivity.

Today’s investment is made available through the Farm Bill and the Inflation Reduction Act, the largest climate investment in history, which has enabled NRCS to boost funding for RCPP. The program promotes collaboration with partners, stakeholders, and various communities, which is paramount to achieving equity in NRCS programs and services.

“Nationally, we had unprecedented demand for the Regional Conservation Partnership Program last year, showing the robust interest in conservation from farmers,” Mortenson said. “Through the increase in funding, we’re able to invest even more this year in this important program, expanding our impact across the landscape. We’re looking forward to seeing what the more streamlined and customer oriented RCPP can do to get more conservation on the ground in the coming months and years.”

There are two separate funding opportunities being announced today: RCPP Classic and RCPP Alternative Funding Arrangements (AFA). RCPP Classic projects are implemented using NRCS contracts and easements with producers, landowners and communities in collaboration with project partners. Through RCPP AFA, the lead partner works directly with agricultural producers to support the development of innovative conservation approaches that would not otherwise be available under RCPP Classic.

The 2024 RCPP funding priorities are climate smart agriculture, urban agriculture, conservation, and environmental justice. NRCS encourages proposals led by historically underserved entities or tribes and will set aside $100 million for Tribal-led projects to be used between both funding opportunities.

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