USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in North Carolina is taking applications for fiscal year 2027 funding. To be considered in this round, apply at your local USDA Service Center by October 30, 2026. NRCS accepts applications year-round, but later ones wait for the next round.
The programs pay part of the cost of conservation work, which can include wildlife habitat practices:
- EQIP (Environmental Quality Incentives Program): cost-share for specific conservation practices.
- CSP (Conservation Stewardship Program): payments for managing above the baseline.
- ACEP (Agricultural Conservation Easement Program): easements that protect farmland and wetlands.
Read the announcement: NRCS in North Carolina accepting applications for conservation programs.