Deadline to apply for USDA’s Regional Conservation Partnership Program is July 14

Agriculture producer groups, local governments and other community organizations interested in partnering with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to leverage federal resources to support area conservation projects may submit a partnership proposal to participate in the USDA’s Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) by July 14.

Authorized through the 2014 Farm Bill, RCPP encourages partners to join in efforts with producers to increase the restoration and sustainable use of soil, water, wildlife and related natural resources. The new program will competitively award funds to conservation projects designed by local partners specifically for their region. Eligible partners include private companies, universities, nonprofit organizations, local and tribal governments and others joining with agricultural and conservation organizations and producers to invest money, manpower and materials to their proposed initiatives.

With participating partners investing along with $1.2 billion in funding from the USDA, the department hopes to leverage an additional $1.2 billion for a total of $2.4 billion for conservation over the life of the five-year program.

“This is an entirely new approach to conservation,” said U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. “By establishing new public-private partnerships, we can have an impact that’s well beyond what the Federal government could accomplish on its own. These efforts keep our land resilient and water clean, and promote tremendous economic growth in agriculture, construction, tourism and outdoor recreation and other industries.”

The RCPP has three funding pools:

1. 35 percent of total program funding directed to critical conservation areas, chosen by the agriculture secretary.
2. 40 percent directed to regional or multi-state projects through a national competitive process.
3. 25 percent directed to state-level projects through a competitive process established by NRCS state leaders.

The critical conservation areas announced by Secretary Vilsack are the Great Lakes Region, Chesapeake Bay Watershed, Mississippi River Basin, Longleaf Pine Range, Columbia River Basin, California Bay Delta, Prairie Grasslands and the Colorado River Basin. The Prairie Grasslands Region includes most of Oklahoma except the far eastern part of the state.

Eligible partners interested in applying can find more information here. Pre-proposals are due July 14, and full proposals are due September 26. Producers may apply for RCPP assistance by contacting their local NRCS office.