Oregon NRCS Programs
Thinking about working with NRCS?
Here's a few things you need to know about our programs and eligibility. Fact Sheet (872 KB - PDF)
NRCS's natural resources conservation programs help people reduce soil erosion, enhance water supplies, improve water quality, increase wildlife habitat, and reduce damages caused by floods and other natural disasters. Public benefits include enhanced natural resources that help sustain agricultural productivity and environmental quality while supporting continued economic development, recreation, and scenic beauty.
Financial Assistance Programs
Grant Programs
Stewardship Programs
Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP)
Conservation Technical Assistance Programs
Other Conservation Programs
National Programs Division
Financial Assistance Programs
Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) - Voluntary financial and technical assistance for structural and management conservation practices on working agricultural lands.
EQIP Organic Initiative - Special EQIP funding is available to organic growers that are certified organic, transitioning organic or those who make under $5,000 of gross organic product farm sales.
EQIP Seasonal High Tunnel Initiative – A Program available to agricultural producers, designed to strengthen local and regional food markets and increase the use of sustainable conservation practices that will improve plant and soil quality, reduce nutrient and pesticide transport and reduce energy inputs.
EQIP Wildfire Initiative - A program available to agricultural producers in Harney and Malheur counties who were impacted by wildfires in 2014. Financial assistance is offered through the Wildfire Initiative of the Environmental Quality Incentives Program to help address resource concerns on private and tribal land.
EQIP On Farm Energy Initiative - Assist producers to conserve energy on their farms through an Agriculture Energy Management Plan (AgEMP), also known as an on-farm energy audit and provide assistance to implement various recommended measures identified in an energy audit.
EQIP Water Quality Initiative (WQI) - A program under the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) through which NRCS will assist producers to improve water quality on their farm or ranch in a priority watersheds.
Sage Grouse Initiative - Focuses on making measurable and significant progress toward treating a specific threat to sage grouse on private lands through strategic use of conservation programs.
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Grant Programs
Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) - Grants to promote and demonstrate new technologies and approaches that can assist agricultural producers address natural resource issues.
Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentives Program (VPA-HIP) - The Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program (VPA-HIP) is a competitive grants program that helps state and tribal governments increase public access to private lands for wildlife-dependent recreation, such as hunting, fishing, nature watching or hiking.
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Stewardship Programs
Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) (2014 Farm Bill)- Voluntary program that encourages producers to address resource concerns in a comprehensive manner by undertaking additional conservation activities and improving, maintaining, and managing existing conservation activities.
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Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP)
Agricultural Land Easements (ALE) - A program to help Indian tribes, state and local governments and non-governmental organizations protect working agricultural lands and limit non-agricultural uses of the land.
Healthy Forests Reserve Program (HFRP) - A program to help landowners manage their land for sustainable, profitable timber harvests while securing long-term protection from regulatory restrictions.
Wetland Reserve Easements (WRE) - The component helps to restore, protect and enhance enrolled wetlands
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Conservation Technical Assistance Programs
Conservation Planning Assistance - A guide to assist farmers, ranchers and other landowners plan and develop conservation measures to: improve operations, protect water quality and quantity; promote high quality, productive soils; develop healthy plant and animal communities; and more.
Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative (GLCI) - Coordination of efforts to identify priority issues, find solutions, and effect change on private grazing land.
Water Resources Planning - Natural resource information on each of Oregon's 8-Digit Hydrologic Units, or watersheds.
Soils Information and the Soil Survey Program - Soils related information including soil survey maps and reports.
Snow Survey and and Water Supply Forecasting - Mountain snowpack data and streamflow forecasts for the western United States.
Oregon National Resource Inventory - A statistical survey of land use and natural resource conditions and trends on U.S. non-Federal lands.
Corvallis Plant Materials Center - Develops conservation plant solutions and technology applicable for western Oregon and Washington.
Aberdeen Plant Materials Center - Develops conservation plant solutions and technology applicable for the landscapes of the Intermountain West.
Pullman Plant Materials Center - Develops conservation plant solutions and technology applicable for eastern Oregon and Washington.
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Other Conservation Programs
Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) - Administered by the Farms Service Agency (FSA), it is a program that encourages farmers to convert highly erodible cropland or other environmentally sensitive acreage to permanent vegetative cover.
Emergency Watershed Protection Program (EWP) - Program to undertake emergency measures, including the purchase of flood plain easements to safeguard lives and property due to damages from floods, drought, fire or other natural occurrences.
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National NRCS Programs
National USDA NRCS Conservation Programs
