# South Carolina

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Welcome to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in South Carolina. The NRCS has been helping farm and forest landowners in the Palmetto State address resource conservation concerns using Farm Bill programs since 1933.

## On This Page

            - Contact Information
            - State Programs and Initiatives
            - How to Get Assistance
            - Related News and Events

## **Who we are:**

The USDA's, NRCS is a agency under the Department's Farm Production and Conservation (FPAC) division and focuses on the conservation of natural resources to ensure availability to future generations. As a non-regulatory agency, we work together with farm and forest landowners to identify conservation concerns on their operations and provide solutions through voluntary conservation programs.

## **What we do:**

Through a series of USDA Service Centers across the state, we help agricultural producers and non-industrial private forest landowners in South Carolina address resource concerns on their operations. Working with landowners we provide advice and assistance to on best practices to address resource concerns including soil, water, air, plants and animals. Based on your operation and objectives, we help develop conservation plans and offer voluntary conservation programs that can increase soil health and fertility, reduce erosion, improve animal habitat and diversity, and ensure farm and forestland for future generations of South Carolinians.

## **How we can help:**

NRCS offers two types of assistance for conservation concerns: Conservation Technical Assistance (CTA), and Financial Assistance (FA): 

**Conservation Technical Assistance:**
                - Our staff of of soil conservationists, soil scientists, and engineers, along with out network of partners, can help offer Conservation Technical Assistance (CTA) to provide advice on your conservation concerns - at not cost. This advice is is tailored to your particular situation, and is developed to help you understand best practices to mitigate the concern. It will also help you to develop a course of action that may lead you to participate in our voluntary, Financial Assistance (FA) programs. Learn about the Conservation Technical Assistance Program. 

**Financial Assistance:**
                - Through the USDA Farm Bill programs, NRCS in South Carolina offers Financial Assistance (FA) programs that can help you get your conservation projects on the ground. Under these cost-sharing programs, NRCS can provide assistance to make your conservation project a reality. Program requirements vary under each subsequent Farm Bill and program eligibility and requirement can change from year to year.

## South Carolina State Office

                -    803-253-3935 
                -    1835 ASSEMBLY ST STE 950COLUMBIA, SC29201-2448 

State Office Page

## Find Your Local Service Center

    USDA Service Centers are locations where you can connect with Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service, or Rural Development employees for your business needs. Enter your state and county below to find your local service center and agency offices. If this locator does not work in your browser, please visit offices.usda.gov.  

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### **Farm Bill programs and applications for South Carolina:**

                - Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP)
                - Environmental Quality Incentive Program Inflation Reduction Act (EQIP-IRA)                   - EQIP Application (CPA1200)
                  - EQIP Appendix (CPA 1202)
                - Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP)
                - Conservation Stewardship Program Inflation Reduction Act (CSP-IRA)                   - CSP Application (CPA 1200)
                  - CSP Appendix (CPA 1202​​) 
                - Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP)
                - Agricultural Conservation Easement Program Inflation Reduction Act (ACEP-IRA)                   - ACEP Application (CPA 1200)
                  - ACEP Appendix (CPA 1202)

#### **Help completing forms:**https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/getting-assistance/financial-help/applications-and-forms

### **Application periods for Fiscal Year 2024:**

                - November 3, 2023 (EQIP, CSP, ACEP)
                - February 2, 2024 (EQIP, CSP, ACEP)
                - February 2, 2024 (ACT NOW) 
                - April 19, 2024 (Urban Ag)
                - Additional Fiscal Year 2024 application dates coming!

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### ***NEW*  Notice of funding opportunities through Grant.gov:**

                - Climate Smart Conservation Collaboration – SOUTH CAROLINA, USDA-NRCS-SC-MULTI-24-NOFO0001344 which closes on**April 5, 2024.**
                - South Carolina Urban, Community and Pollinator Garden Projects, USDA-NRCS-SC-MULTI-24-NOFO0001343 which closes on**June 1, 2024.**

**For questions regarding this opportunity, contact the following individual with the opportunity number in the subject line:****Name: Lyn Millhiser****Grants Management Specialist****FPAC Business Center****Email: Lyn.Millhiser@usda.gov with a copy to NFO.FPAC@USDA.GOV**

**To protect the integrity of the competitive process, applicants must not contact agency program staff with questions.**

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## Popular Conservation Topics in South Carolina

Partnerships in South Carolina

Wildlife and Native Plants and Conservation

Watersheds, Flooding and Emergency Assistance

Pollinators

Urban Agriculture

##   Forestry in South Carolina

Did you know 67% of the land in South Carolina is forested? Click here to learn more about South Carolina's #1 agricultural commodity

Learn More About This Valuable SC Resource

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## State Programs and Initiatives

Agricultural Conservation Easement Program in SC

Conservation Stewardship Program in SC

Environmental Quality Incentives Program in SC

Organic Initiative

Regional Conservation Partnership Program in SC

Source Water Protection in SC

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## State Payment Schedule

NRCS provides financial assistance for selected conservation practices. The availability and amount of financial assistance can vary between states.

Learn More

## Civil Rights Committee

The National Civil Rights Advisory Committee to the Chief (NCRACC) is designed to provide management officials and employees with counsel and advice to enhance and ensure compliance with their equal employment opportunity and program delivery responsibilities.

Learn More

## State Technical Committee

State Technical Committees serve in an advisory capacity to the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and other agencies of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on the implementation of the natural resources conservation provisions of Farm Bill legislation.

Learn More

##   How to Get Assistance

**Do you farm or ranch and want to make improvements to the land that you own or lease?**

Natural Resources Conservation Service offers technical and financial assistance to help farmers, ranchers and forest landowners.

**Print this information

###         Step 1: Make a Plan    

**To get started with NRCS, we recommend you stop by your local NRCS field office. We’ll discuss your vision for your land.**

NRCS provides landowners with free technical assistance, or advice, for their land. Common technical assistance includes: resource assessment, practice design and resource monitoring. Your conservation planner will help you determine if financial assistance is right for you.

###         Step 2: Start an Application    

**We’ll walk you through the application process. To get started on applying for financial assistance, we’ll work with you:**
                        - To fill out an AD 1026, which ensures a conservation plan is in place before lands with highly erodible soils are farmed. It also ensures that identified wetland areas are protected.
                        - To meet other eligibility certifications.

Once complete, we’ll work with you on the application, or CPA 1200.

Applications for most programs are accepted on a continuous basis, but they’re considered for funding in different ranking periods. Be sure to ask your local NRCS district conservationist about the deadline for the ranking period to ensure you turn in your application in time.

###         Step 3: Check your eligibility    

**As part of the application process, we’ll check to see if you are eligible. To do this, you’ll need to bring:**
                        - An official tax ID (Social Security number or an employer ID)
                        - A property deed or lease agreement to show you have control of the property; and
                        - A farm number.

If you don’t have a farm number, you can get one from USDA’s Farm Service Agency. Typically, the local FSA office is located in the same building as the local NRCS office. You only need a farm number if you’re interested in financial assistance.

###         Step 4: Rank your application    

**NRCS will take a look at the applications and rank them** according to local resource concerns, the amount of conservation benefits the work will provide and the needs of applicants. View Application Ranking Dates by State.

###         Step 5: Implement your plan    

**If you’re selected, you can choose whether to sign the contract for the work to be done.**

Once you sign the contract, you’ll be provided standards and specifications for completing the practice or practices, and then you will have a specified amount of time to implement. Once the work is implemented and inspected, you’ll be paid the rate of compensation for the work if it meets NRCS standards and specifications.

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## Related News and Events

NewsUSDA Makes $1.5 Billion Available to Help Farmers Advance Conservation and Climate-Smart Agriculture as Part of President Biden’s Investing in America AgendaApril 03, 2024

NewsUSDA Seeks Partnerships to Expand Conservation on Grazing Lands  March 27, 2024

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