The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service is accepting applications to help producers improve water and air quality, build healthier soil, improve grazing and forest lands, conserve energy, enhance organic operations and achieve more environmental benefits.

Minnesota producers implement conservation practices through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, the agency’s largest Farm Bill conservation program. Landowners can contact their local NRCS service center for information on EQIP sign-up periods.

EQIP provides financial assistance for a variety of conservation activities, such as drainage water management, reduced tillage, field buffers, and rotational grazing systems. The deadline for the next signup period in Minnesota is Dec. 20. Additional signup deadlines include Jan. 17, 2014; Feb. 21, 2014 and March 21, 2014.

The USDA is also accepting applications for conservation practices in the Conservation Stewardship Program for fiscal year 2014, due by Jan. 17, 2014. CSP is now in its fifth year and so far, NRCS has partnered with producers to enroll more than 59 million acres across the nation.

A CSP self-screening checklist is available to help producers determine if the program is suitable for their operation. The checklist highlights basic information about CSP eligibility requirements, stewardship threshold requirements and payment types. For the checklist or to learn more about CSP, visit the NRCS CSP website at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/programs/financial/csp/ or visit a local USDA NRCS office.

For more information about EQIP and CSP, contact the local service center: Austin Service Center 1408 21st Ave. NW, Austin, MN 55912, 507-433-8429, fax 507-434-2680.