USDA Announces January 15 National Batching Deadline for Major NRCS Conservation Programs

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) today announced the establishment of a national January 15, 2026 batching deadline for the first funding round of key conservation programs. This national batching date ensures producers have a clear, consistent timeline for participating in Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP), and Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA). This includes NRCS' new Regenerative Pilot Program, which provides targeted Farmer First assistance through EQIP and CSP.

"The NRCS team continues its commitment to America's producers - advancing conservation, strengthening service delivery, and keeping our promise to the men and women who feed and fuel our nation," said NRCS Chief Aubrey J.D. Bettencourt. "Our mission is clear: empower farmers, protect our natural resources, and deliver on President Trump's 'Farmers First' vision."

NRCS programs are continuous sign-up programs, but due to the government shutdown, the agency is implementing an initial national batching period to ensure producers have access to funding and support.

Updated NRCS Program Timelines

• All NRCS conservation programs remain continuous sign-up.
• Farmers and ranchers have until Jan. 15, 2026, to apply for the first batching period.
• National and State Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) will follow later in the year.
• PL-566 and Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) opportunities remain open for sponsors based on available funding.

Programs with a January 15, 2026, batching period deadline include:

• Agricultural Conservation Easement Program(ACEP)
• Environmental Quality Incentives Program(EQIP)
• Conservation Stewardship Program(CSP)
• New NRCS Regenerative Pilot Program(EQIP & CSP)
  • Beginning Farmers and Ranchers
  • Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers
  • Local Foods / High Tunnel Initiative
  • CPA, DIA, CEMA
  • National Organic Initiative
  • On-Farm Energy
  • Sage Grouse Initiative

FY26 Funding in Oregon

Statewide EQIP Funding Opportunities
For FY26, general EQIP funding is available statewide in the following categories:

Local EQIP Funding Opportunities
Additional EQIP funding is available at the local level for producers located across the state. Click on your basin or a specific EQIP initiative below to learn more.

• North Coast Lower Willamette Basin
• Central Coast Upper Willamette Southwest Basin
• Deschutes High Desert Basin
• John Day Umatilla Snake River Basin
• WaterSMART Initiative: A collaboration with the Bureau of Reclamation to coordinate investments in priority areas for improving water conservation and drought resilience. FY26 funding is available for the East Fork Irrigation District, the Middle Fork Irrigation District and the Vale Oregon Irrigation District projects.
• National Water Quality Initiative: NRCS works closely with conservation partners to select priority watersheds where on-farm conservation investments will deliver the greatest water quality improvements. FY26 funding is available for the Mollala, Monroe, Siletz, Medford and Baker projects.
• National Air Quality Initiative: In Oregon, funding is available to farmers to help orchard producers reduce the use of high-emission, diesel-fuel smudge pots which are commonly used to protect crops from damaging spring frosts. NRCS is providing a financial incentive to help growers remove smudge pots from their operations, so they can be replaced with cleaner, more efficient systems. FY26 funding is available for the Hood River project.
• Joint Chiefs Landscape Restoration Initiative: These projects focus on reducing the risk of catastrophic wildfire on private forestlands and adjacent federal lands managed by the U.S. Forest Service. FY26 funding is available for the Hood River project.

Conservation Stewardship Program
For FY26, CSP funding is available statewide across six zones, four for agriculture and two for non-industrial private forestland. Find your CSP zone on the map below and learn more about what's available for each zone at the bottom of the CSP Oregon webpage here.

Learn More & Apply
Visit the Oregon EQIP webpageand Oregon CSP webpagefor more information about funding opportunities and program eligibility. Search for current projects and funding opportunities specific to your county by visiting the "What's Available in My County?"webpage.

Interested applicants can also contact their local USDA Service Centerto inquire about active projects in their county and apply for assistance.

For more information, please visit nrcs.usda.govor contact your local USDA Service Center.