The Natural Resources Conservation Service has announced Jan. 31 as the cutoff for the first round of applications under the Environmental Quality Incentive Program, EQIP.

Assistance is available to help farmers and landowners plan and implement conservation practices to improve water quality, build healthier soil, improve grazing and forest lands, conserve energy, enhance organic operations, establish or improve wildlife habitat, and achieve other environmental benefits on cropland and pasture, forestland and associated agricultural land, including farmsteads.

Popular practices include those that support manure handling and storage systems, such as waste storage structures; soil health improvement, such as cover crops and no-till; pasture improvement, such as prescribed grazing and watering systems; forest improvement, such as forest stand improvement; and habitat improvement, such as early successional habitat management.

Those interested in applying should contact the NRCS office at 724-482-5298 to learn more about eligibility requirements and to receive an application.

Andy Gaver is a conservationist with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service in Butler County.