USDA- National Resources Conservation Service
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) - NRCS staff partnering with the Missaukee Conservation District is able to provide both technical and financial assistance to private landowners. They can help solve management challenges such as:
Credit: DaPuglet Wood Duck
Credit: United Soybean Board
Credit: Christine Warner
Credit: ihamr Tree Farm
Credit: Brian Greenlee
The technical assistance can include both conservation planning and engineering assistance. The financial assistance available from the two different programs: Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP)
Environmental Quality Incentives Program
EQIP provides conservation financial assistance for working lands. Rather than take land out of production, EQIP helps landowners maintain or improve production while conserving natural resources. EQIP assistance is available for all types of agricultural operations, including field crops, specialty crops, organic farms, contained livestock, grazing operations and private forestland.
Landowners with forested lands can benefit from this program through practices such as wildlife habitat improvement, controlling erosion on forest roads, and improving the management of the forest for timber.
Conservation Stewardship Program
CSP is for working lands, be they agricultural or forestland. The program is designed to help landowners build on their existing conservation efforts by bringing their entire operation up to a high conservation standard.
Landowners who are interested in committng to this high standard can enter into a five year contract with the option to renew for another five years. the contracts provide landowners with an annual payment, as well as financial assistance reimbursement for "enhancement" Conservation practices
USDA-NRCS Office
7192 E. 34 Road
Cadillac, MI 49601
231.775.7681 ext 3