AgEBB-MU CAFNR Extension
Green Horizons
Volume 21, Number 3
Fall 2017
Agroforestry
NRCS Agroforestry and Woody Crop Establishment
NRCS Missouri Announces Agroforestry Financial Assistance through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) for Fiscal Year 2018. Sign up deadline is November 17, 2017.
The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is an agency of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) that is responsible for assisting landowners to address resource concerns on private land to improve our soil, water, air, plants, animals (both domestic and wild), and improve energy efficiency. The vision of NRCS is to ensure productive lands in harmony with a healthy environment.
Agroforestry is a unique land management approach that intentionally blends agriculture and forestry to enhance productivity, profitability, and environmental stewardship. In 2010, the USDA-NRCS and USDA Forest Service, along with numerous other partners and stakeholders, developed the USDA Agroforestry Strategic Framework to increase awareness and support for agroforestry across the country. As a result, starting in fiscal year 2017, NRCS in Missouri offered a dedicated funding pool for Agroforestry and Woody
Crop Establishment within the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). NRCS provides assistance to landowners in the form of Conservation Technical Assistance (CTA) and Financial Assistance. CTA is the help that NRCS and its partners provide to private landowners to address opportunities, concerns and problems related to the use of natural resources and to help landowners make sound natural resource management decisions on private, tribal and other non-federal lands. CTA is voluntary and free. One of the most beneficial outcomes of participating with NRCS CTA is the development of a Conservation Plan specific to each landowners' property and goals. If the landowner chooses CTA, the Conservation Plan serves as a springboard for those interested in participating in EQIP financial assistance. EQIP provides financial assistance to help implement conservation practices that address natural resource concerns and opportunities. Financial assistance is awarded to the producer for implementing conservation practices in accordance with established conservation standards established for each practice. The core conservation practices associated with the EQIP Agroforestry and Woody Crop Establishment funding pool are:
Alley Cropping
Multi-Story Cropping
Riparian Forest Buffers
Silvopasture
Tree/Shrub Establishment
Windbreak/Shelterbelt Establishment
These conservation practices may be utilized individually or in combination in different parts of the landscape depending on the landowner's goals. Landowners interested in Agroforestry and/or Woody Crop Establishment on their property have many resources at their disposal through the NRCS CTA and EQIP Financial Assistance opportunities. Agroforestry and Woody Crop Establishment is consistent with NRCS goals and vision.
Landowners interested in financial assistance through EQIP for Agroforestry and Woody Crop Establishment on their farm should submit an application to their local NRCS office by November 17, 2017 to be considered for Fiscal Year 18 financial assistance. An online application form is available here:(https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/PA_NRCSConsumption/download?cid=nrcseprd413429&ext=pdf)
For general questions about EQIP and the Agroforestry and Woody Crop Establishment funding opportunity please contact Lauren Cartwright, Missouri EQIP Program Coordinator at 573-876-9415 or lauren.cartwright@mo.usda.gov
To submit an application and make an appointment to visit with an NRCS certified conservation planner, contact your local USDA Service Center (https://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app).
In addition, resources are available online to learn more about NRCS and EQIP. National NRCS Webpage https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/site/national/home/
Missouri NRCS Webpage: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/site/mo/home/
Another good reference describing the program has been developed as a University of Missouri Center for Agroforestry, Agroforestry in Action publication:
Using NRCS Technical and Financial Assistance for Agroforestry and Woody Crop Establishment through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).
http://www.centerforagroforestry.org/pubs/NRCS_AgroforestryandWoodyCrop.pdf