By Craig Anderson

DOVER - The United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service is encouraging all Delaware agricultural producers to apply for conservation resources to improve the health and productivity of their agricultural land, a news release said.

The service offers technical and financial assistance through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program and Agricultural Management Assistance Program. The first application cutoff for fiscal year 2023 funding is Nov. 18, the USDA said.

Assistance can help Delaware farmers and landowners plan and implement conservation practices to improve soil, water, plant, animal, air and related resources on eligible agricultural and non-industrial forest land. Popular practices include waste storage structures, heavy use area pads, high tunnels, energy, cover crops, irrigation water management, poultry windbreaks and more, the USDA said.

The USDA is focused on two initiatives:

• The northern bobwhite effort is designed to increase suitable wildlife habitat. A separate fund pool is available for wildlife practices to manage nesting cover, brood-rearing habitat, forage habitat and escape cover for bobwhite quail in priority areas throughout the state.

• The American black duck effort helps reduce threats to critical habitat. A separate fund pool is available to create shallow water ponds and other wetland practices to support habitat development.

USDA conservationists will work with producers to develop a conservation plan on their land to identify concerns and opportunities, help determine objectives and recommend solutions.

Applications are accepted year-round; however, Delaware producers with applications in before Nov. 18 will have a higher chance of approval as funding is limited. Two additional application cutoff dates are scheduled for the third Friday of March and May 2023.

To be eligible for program assistance, producers must have an eligible resource concern on their agricultural operation at the time of application. Historically underserved producers may request advance payments for incentive program practices, which provides the producer with a payment of at least 50% for practice implementation.

To apply for financial assistance, contact a USDA Service Center. In 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.

Additional information on programs and services is available on the Delaware NRCS website at de.nrcs.usda.gov.