DOVER — The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service in Delaware announces the fiscal year 2023 signup period for Conservation Incentive Contracts, a new option available through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program.

Delaware producers should apply by Feb. 10 to be considered for funding in fiscal year 2023. 

The Environmental Quality Incentives Program-Conservation Incentives Contracts is a voluntary conservation program that provides farmers increased financial and technical assistance to help plan and implement conservation practices and activities on working agricultural lands.

Through EQIP-CIC, producers may be eligible for a separate payment limitation of $200,000 above the standard EQIP payment limitation.

Conservation Incentive Contracts will help producers address priority resource concerns in cropland, such as field pesticide loss; field sediment, nutrient, and pathogen loss; and source water depletion.

EQIP-CIC priority practices in Delaware include the following:

• Soil Health Testing (216)

• Conservation Crop Rotation (328)

• Residue and Tillage Management, No-Till (329)

• Cover Crop (340)

• Residue and Tillage Management, Reduced Till (345)

• Irrigation Water Management (449)

• Drainage Water Management (554)

• Nutrient Management (590)

• Pest Management Conservation System (595)

• Soil Carbon Amendment (808)

While applications for EQIP-CIC are accepted throughout the year, interested producers should submit applications to their local NRCS office by Feb. 10 to be considered for the 2023 funding period.

Applications accepted after Feb. 10 will be considered in the next signup. All applications are competitive and are ranked based on national, state and locally identified resource priorities and the overall benefit to the environment.

Producers interested in EQIP-CIC should call their local USDA service center. In Delaware’s Sussex County, call 302-856-3990, ext. 3; in Kent County, call 302-741-2600, ext. 3; and in New Castle County, call 302-832-3100, ext. 3. Or visit https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/eqip-conservation-incentive-contracts.