The U.S. Dept. of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has had a record year in 2024.
This year, more than 11 million acres were enrolled in NRCS voluntary conservation programs, with nearly 18,000 new customers participating.
NRCS Chief Terry Cosby says the increase in enrollments is thanks to spending in several programs this year:
“We have our flagship programs. When we start talking about EQUIP, we talk about RCPP, talk about CSP. We had those authorities during the Farm Bill and then when we got our investments, those dollars came in and also helped us with those same programs. Those dollars went through those programs. The type of investments we’re talking about is about $19.5 billion — that came in and let money go into those four programs to help us with the constellations going on around the country. It gave us some significant increases to help these producers with their soil and water conservation needs.”
Next year, NRCS plans to make nearly $8 billion available to producers looking to implement conservation and climate-smart practices.
