In mid-April, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announced that it was providing over $200 million through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) for 48 partner-driven conservation projects. These projects focus on implementing conservation practices through innovative partnerships within a broader landscape or watershed. The agricultural and natural resource objectives of the projects focus on improving water quality, soil health, and drought resiliency for farmers and ranchers, as well as protecting drinking water and improving wildlife habitat. Federal funding through NRCS is typically matched at least dollar for dollar, and the projects funded through this cycle will leverage an additional nearly $300 million in funding from partner agencies and organizations.

“I’m excited to announce the first RCPP awards under the 2018 Farm Bill,” said NRCS Chief Matthew Lohr. “Through collaboration and aligning our resources toward a common goal, we’re making an impact for natural resource conservation that could never have been realized on our own.”

Since RCPP was authorized in the 2014 Farm Bill, more than $1 billion in NRCS investments has been matched by almost $2 billion in partner funding; there are currently 341 active RCPP projects. The 2018 Farm Bill made RCPP a stand-alone program with approximately $300 million available annually. In addition to the funding announced last month, NRCS has awarded $50 million to renew 18 projects that were initiated under the 2014 Farm Bill.