The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Nevada is announcing its first-round funding signup for Conservation Incentive Contracts (CIC), a new option available through the Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP). While applications for EQIP are accepted throughout the year, interested producers should submit applications to their local NRCS office by April 15, 2022, to be considered for the 2022 ranking funding period.

EQIP-CIC expands resource benefits for Nevada producers through incentive conservation practices such as cover crops, transition to resource conserving crop rotations, and precision agriculture technologies along with a similarly broad suite of incentive practices for ranchers and nonindustrial private forest operators. Additionally, EQIP-CIC allows producers to target priority resource concerns on their property by offering incentive payments for a five-year contract without needing to enroll the entire operation into the program.

EQIP-CIC is designed to be a stepping-stone between EQIP and the Conservation Stewardship Program, to help producers improve their level of conservation and earn benefits of longer-term conservation enhancements. For more information about conservation planning and programs to help treat natural resource issues on your land, visit www.nv.nrcs.usda.gov or call the Nevada NRCS Service Center at (775) 857-8500