Minnesota NRCS Financial Assistance Programs (FAP)

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.

Is a conservation plan right for you?

 NRCS assists landowners and land users, communities, units of state and local government, Tribes, and other Federal agencies in planning and implementing conservation systems and practices.

The first step in seeking NRCS assistance is to call your local USDA Service Center and make an appointment with NRCS staff that will help you identify the natural resource problems and opportunities on your farm, define your conservation objectives, and inventory your soil, water, air, plant and animal resources. Much of this information will require a field visit to see your operation and to evaluate the resource concerns you may have. You can work with NRCS to develop a conservation plan. Financial assistance from NRCS farm bill programs or other Federal, State and local conservation programs may be available to help fund some of the conservation practices outlined in your plan.

See links below for detailed information on financial assistance programs Minnesota NRCS has to offer.

Agricultural Water Enhancement Program (AWEP)

 The Agricultural Water Enhancement Program (AWEP) is a voluntary conservation initiative that provides financial and technical assistance to agricultural producers to implement agricultural water enhancement activities on agricultural land for the purposes of conserving surface and ground water and improving water quality.

Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP)

Through CSP, NRCS will provide financial and technical assistance to eligible producers to conserve and enhance soil, water, air, and related natural resources on their land.