On-Farm Conservation Policies and Programs
- Federal
- State
- Local
Federal Approaches
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA NRCS) implements the key federal policies and programs that protect the nation’s farm and ranch land and assist private landowners with natural resource concerns. Several federal programs help connect farmers and ranchers with land. You can review the FSA and NRCS Conservation Programs at a Glance Guide and use the Table of Contents to navigate to a specific federal program.
Agricultural Conservation Easement Program
The Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP), administered by USDA NRCS, is a voluntary conservation program that protects agricultural land from conversion to non-farm uses and conserves and restores wetlands. ACEP has two components: Agricultural Land Easements (ALE) and Wetland Reserve Easements (WRE). ACEP provides technical and financial assistance to landowners to conserve farm and ranch lands, grasslands, and wetlands.
Under the Wetlands Reserve Easements (WRE) component, USDA NRCS partners with eligible private landowners and American Indian tribes to restore, enhance, and protect wetlands through the purchase of a wetland reserve easement. Wetland Reserve Easements provide habitat for fish and wildlife, including threatened and endangered species; improve water quality by filtering sediments and chemicals; reduce flooding; recharge groundwater; protect biological diversity; provide resilience to climate change and provide opportunities for educational, scientific and limited recreational activities.
Conservation Innovation Grants
Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) support the development of new tools, approaches, practices, and technologies to further natural resource conservation on private lands. The program works to address water quality, air quality, soil health and wildlife habitat challenges, all while improving agricultural operations.
Conservation Reserve Program
The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) encourages farmers to convert highly erodible cropland and other environmentally sensitive land to vegetative cover including native grasses, trees, filter strips, habitat buffers or riparian buffers. The program provides assistance to farmers and ranchers in complying with Federal, State, and tribal environmental laws, and encourages environmental enhancement. A variation of the CRP, the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) helps farmers protect environmentally sensitive land, decrease erosion, restore wildlife habitat and safeguard ground and surface water. Another part of the CRP program is the Grassland Conservation Reserve Program (Grassland CRP) which helps landowners and operators protect grassland, including rangeland, and pastureland while maintaining the areas as grazing lands. These programs are administered by the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service assists with technical assistance through conservation planning.
Conservation Stewardship Program
The Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) offers technical and financial assistance to help agricultural and forest producers take their conservation efforts to the next level. The program is designed to compensate agricultural and forest producers who agree to increase their level of conservation by adopting additional conservation activities and maintaining their baseline level of conservation. CSP is for producers who are passionate about conservation and environmental stewardship. CSP is administered by the USDA NRCS.
Environmental Quality Incentives Program
The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) provides financial and technical assistance through contracts to help plan and implement structural and management practices on eligible agricultural land. Contracts address natural resource concerns and opportunities to improve soil, water, plant, animal, air and related environmental resources. EQIP can help producers meet environmental regulations. EQIP is administered by the USDA NRCS.
Regional Conservation Partnership Program
The Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) promotes coordination of NRCS conservation activities with partners that offer value-added contributions to expand our collective ability to address on-farm, watershed, and regional natural resource concerns. Through RCPP, NRCS seeks to co-invest with partners to implement projects that demonstrate innovative solutions to conservation challenges and provide measurable improvements and outcomes tied to the resource concerns they seek to address. RCPP is administered by the USDA NRCS.
Soil and Water Resources Conservation Act
The Soil and Water Resources Conservation Act (RCA) of 1977, as amended, provides the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) broad strategic assessment and planning authority for the conservation, protection, and enhancement of soil, water, and related natural resources. Through RCA, the USDA developed a national soil and water conservation program that supports specific soil and water conservation activities.
NRCS is also mandated by the RCA, and the earlier Rural Development Act of 1972 (RDA), to assess the status, condition, and trends of soil, water, and related resources at 5-year intervals. To help accomplish this assessment required by RCA, and to expand the agency’s existing soil survey program, the National Resources Inventory (NRI) program was developed. The NRI program collects and produces scientifically credible information on the status, condition, and trends of land, soil, water, and related natural resources on the nation’s non-federal lands in support of efforts to protect, restore, and enhance the lands and waters of the United States. Data from the NRI provide the foundation for shaping major agri-environmental policy and land use decisions nationwide.
Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Grants
The Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program offers competitive grants to fund research and education projects that advance sustainable agricultural practices in the United States. Eligible applicants include Farmers and ranchers, Researchers, Extension agents and other educators, and Graduate students. SARE also offers Professional Development grants and training opportunities for professionals including Cooperative Extension Service, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Farm Service Agency (FSA), the private sector, and nonprofits. The program operates in every state and island protectorate. Funded by the USDA’’s National Institute for Food and Agriculture, the program is run by four regions hosted by land grant institutions. To learn about SARE grant opportunities available to you, find your region.
Use
SARE Webpage
State Approaches
Many states offer assistance to agricultural producers and non-operating agricultural landowners to improve on-farm conservation. These programs are often administered by state departments of agriculture or state soil conservation commissions. They may also be administered locally through soil and water conservation districts. State-administered programs are frequently offered on a voluntary basis, with producers receiving no-cost technical assistance to create a conservation plan, financial assistance to implement practices, access to peer-to-peer research and demonstrations, and more.
The State Conservation Program Dashboard (the dashboard) contains information about three types of common state-level programs. The dashboard’s tables highlight program features and activities to enable comparisons across states. A summary of findings, which can also be accessed on the dashboard, is available here: A Review of State Agricultural Conservation Programs.
In addition to these programs directed toward supporting agricultural producers, some states have adopted state-level plans or have created task forces and commissions. The aim of these efforts is to build strategies to improve on-farm conservation to advance soil health, climate adaptation and mitigation, or other broad purposes.
On-Farm Conservation Programs
On-farm conservation programs offer technical and financial assistance to landowners to plan and implement land management practices that aim to enhance soil health and deliver other environmental benefits. Technical assistance can include on-site visits, conservation planning, and assistance with implementing practices. Financial assistance often takes the form of cost-share or grants to landowners that pay for all or part of the expense incurred to implement practices, often on a reimbursable basis.
On-farm conservation programs complement federal Farm Bill conservation efforts, such as the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), and the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). For instance, state programs frequently refer to NRCS practice codes in planning for and implementing practices.
Contact your state department of agriculture, state soil conservation commission, or local soil and water conservation district to learn about on-farm conservation programs available in your state. You can also visit the State Conservation Program Dashboard to see if a program in your state is listed. Your local NRCS office may also be aware of these programs available in your state.
Technical Assistance Capacity Programs
Technical assistance capacity programs provide funding to expand operations and professional development opportunities for technical assistance providers. The programs are meant to enhance the ability of technical assistance providers, including soil and water conservation district staff, university extension staff, and private contractors, to support landowners implementing on-farm conservation practices and expand the network of technical assistance providers. Capacity-building programs often benefit local soil and water conservation districts but can also support cooperative extension, nonprofit organizations, and independent private contractors.
If you are a technical assistance provider, contact your state department of agriculture, state soil conservation commission, or local soil and water conservation district to learn about capacity-building grants available in your state. You can also visit the State Conservation Program Dashboard to see if a program in your state is listed. Your local NRCS office may also be aware of these programs available in your state.
Research and Demonstration Programs
Research and Demonstration programs fund on-farm research to test and share effective conservation practices through peer-to-peer learning opportunities. Typically, entities, including academic institutions and nonprofit organizations, design research projects and serve as lead applicants. They collaborate with farmers or landowners to test land management approaches, collect data, demonstrate best practices, and share information with other producers. These programs may complement research projects funded by Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) grants administered by USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
Contact your state department of agriculture, state soil conservation commission, or local soil and water conservation district to learn about research and demonstration programs available in your state. You can also visit the State Conservation Program Dashboard to see if a program in your state is listed.
Other Approaches and Innovations
Beyond the common approaches, states have used other unique methods to expand the adoption of on-farm conservation practices. Less common approaches include cover crop insurance premium discounts, tax credits and deductions, training programs, soil assessments, and more.
Cover Crop Insurance Premium Discounts
Cover crop premium discount programs offer discounts on crop insurance premiums for every acre of cover crops enrolled in an approved insurance policy. These programs are intended to supplement existing federal and state incentive programs such as EQIP, CSP, and state cost-share. This approach was first piloted in Iowa in 2018 and has since expanded to Illinois and Indiana.
Tax Incentives
A small number of states, including Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, provide income tax subtractions or credits to agricultural producers for implementing conservation practices or buying equipment. In Pennsylvania, unused tax credits are also transferrable and can be sold to non-farm businesses. These tax incentives are typically calculated based on a percentage of the cost to purchase equipment or implement a practice.
Technical Training and Certification Program
Minnesota’s Technical Training and Certification Program (TTCP) offers no-cost education for technical assistance providers in the state. The state’s Board of Water & Soil Resources administers the program in partnership with NRCS and local soil and water conservation districts. BWSR investigates technical training needs around the state, develops the curriculum, handles course logistics, and coordinates with partners to provide the training. Participation is open to anyone whose mission overlaps with the program. Although the program focuses on water quality and training is centered around NRCS technical standards and specifications, the curriculum is comprehensive.
Soil Assessment Program
The Washington Soil Health Initiative (WaSHI) is a partnership between the Washington State Department of Agriculture, Washington State University, and the State Conservation Commission to engage in research, outreach, and education and provide funding opportunities to promote healthy soil practices in the state. WaSHI is a collection of multiple efforts to advance soil health. In particular, the State of the Soils Assessment involves taking soil samples from around the state to establish a baseline, producing an interactive soil map, understanding how different climates, crops, and management practices impact soil health, and developing approaches for further soil health assessments and management tools. This project trains technical assistance providers in soil health analysis and provides landowners with personal soil health reports.
Local Approaches
While most conservation policy is enacted at the federal or state level, conservation itself is implemented locally. Major partners to these efforts are local units of government.
Conservation District Programs
More than 3,000 conservation districts have been established by state law to manage and protect soil and water resources on public and private lands. Depending on the state, they also are called resource conservation districts, soil and water conservation districts, and soil conservation districts.
County or municipality-based conservation districts provide technical assistance, funding, educational programs, and agricultural tools to producers and many districts employ education coordinators who conduct programs for schools and civic groups.
Many conservation districts offer cost-share or grant programs that enhance local resource conservation and support producers’ efforts in meeting local conservation goals. To promote conservation practices and agriculture, some conservation districts have agricultural equipment for loan or rent at low cost to operators. Though all conservation districts are committed to conservation, each has unique objectives and practices that meet the local needs of their communities. There are also often differences between conservation districts in how they are administered, funded, what their primary functions are, and whether they have regulatory authority.
For example, New Jersey Soil Conservation Districts are semi-autonomous, locally governed and have regulatory authority whereas Conservation Districts in Washington are non-regulatory and focus on advancing voluntary conservation efforts.
Other Approaches and Innovations
Beyond the common approaches, some municipalities have used other unique methods to expand the adoption of on-farm conservation practices. Less common approaches include community manure management programs, specific parcel designations, and farm stewardship policies.
For example, the Conservation Commission in Lincoln, MA, has developed a Farm Stewardship Policy to encourage sustainable agricultural practices among town licensed farmers. Conservation staff, under the direction of the Conservation Commission, oversee the monitoring program for farm licenses, which includes a yearly visit to each farm, a process for reviewing the required farm reports and discussions with farmers to help support them in good stewardship of the land.
In the Hudson Valley, multiple counties designate parcels of land as Critical Environmental Areas (CEA). CEA designation can encourage more proactive planning and design to conserve critical resources, avoid hazards, and keep track of habitat connectivity and watershed protection.
Another example of an innovative conservation program is Dane County, Wisconsin’s Community Manure Management project. supports a variety of community manure management pilot projects including manure digesters, nutrient concentration systems, and manure composting.
