Project Goals and Results
Our goal was simple: make it easier for North Carolina producers and landowners to learn about, try, and adopt NRCS conservation practices that work on real farms and forests. We did this by partnering with producers and local organizations to host hands-on demonstrations, multi-site tours, and by building practical tools that lowered paperwork and knowledge barriers.
Mobile App
FarmEra is a free, web-based tool developed as part of the NC Conservation Outreach Project to help farmers and landowners explore conservation practices that might be a good fit for their operation.The app works like a guided conversation — a virtual assistant named Jim walks you through a short series of questions about your farm or forest, the resource concerns you're dealing with (such as soil health, water quality, livestock management, or crop productivity), and your goals and motivations.Based on your responses, FarmEra suggests relevant conservation practices and generates a personalized PDF summary and a ready-to-send email that you can share directly with your local NRCS Service Center to get the conversation started.The whole process takes just a few minutes and requires no prior knowledge of NRCS programs. Whether you're brand new to conservation planning or just looking for a starting point, FarmEra is designed to lower the barrier to connecting with the resources and funding that may be available for your land.
This app is based upon work supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, under agreement number NR243A750003C105. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.
Video Series
We partnered with North Carolina farmers and NRCS planners to produce a series of short documentary-style videos featuring real producers from across the state.
Each video follows a working farm or forest operation, letting producers tell the story of how they've worked with NRCS to address resource concerns and implement conservation practices on their land. Videos in the series cover vegetable and row crop production, livestock operations, and forestry — with farmers walking through what they've learned about costs, benefits, maintenance, and available cost-share opportunities.
The series emphasizes practical, on-the-ground results: strategies that reduce risk, improve soil and water health, and fit the realities of North Carolina's diverse farming seasons.
Research Findings
Alongside our outreach activities, two graduate students from NC A&T State University, Sri Yogitha Relangi and Samuel Oshikoya, conducted applied research investigating barriers to accessing NRCS programs in North Carolina and identifying which conservation practices have seen the most successful implementation across the state. Their research drew on a mixed-methods approach including NRCS program data review, producer and planner interviews, listening sessions in priority counties, and case studies at demonstration sites. Key focus areas included producer awareness of available programs, paperwork and documentation burdens, timing and cash flow challenges, language access, and the availability of technical assistance.
Research surfaced several recurring themes:
Common Barriers
- Navigating paperwork
- Variable wait times
- Limited opportunities for in-person technical visits
What Works
- Peer examples on working farms
- Locally rooted navigators
- Bilingual materials
- Step-by-step checklists
- Small stipends to account for producer time
These findings should inform how conservation outreach efforts are conducted in the future. The full paper is currently in the review process and is expected to be published soon; it will be added to this site as soon as it's available.
Read our initial findings in the NCCOP Outreach Analysis & Planning Doc
Our colleagues at the Rural Advancement Fund International (RAFI) also published this article about barriers to NRCS practices.
NRCS Soil Conservationist, Casey Harrington, and farmer and NRCS Technical Service Provider, Howard Allen, led a workshop as part of this project to help farmers and landowners better understand how to navigate NRCS.
Additional Resource
Farmer's Navigator (farmersnavigator.com) is a free, independent resource that helps farmers and ranchers make sense of federal agricultural programs like EQIP, CSP, FSA loans, disaster assistance, and beginning farmer programs, with guides covering every state. The site was built by Doug McCarty, who runs a grazing operation in Eugene, Oregon, after navigating these programs himself and wanting a clearer starting point for other producers.
Beyond plain-language program guides, the site offers free interactive tools, including a PRF rainfall analysis tool, an LRP calculator, a disaster triage tool, a document checklist, and a drought dashboard. There's also a quick eligibility screener that lets farmers answer a set of questions about their operation and receive a state-specific list of programs they may be eligible for, along with materials and scripted questions to help them get the most out of meetings with USDA program staff. The goal, in the site's own words, is simple: arrive at your NRCS or FSA office prepared, so the process goes faster for everyone.
Farmer's Navigator is an independent, privately developed website (farmersnavigator.com) and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or developed by USDA-NRCS, NC State University, or the NC Conservation Outreach Project. It is shared here as a potentially useful third-party resource. Always verify program details and eligibility with your local USDA Service Center.
2026 Deadlines for NC Farmers
NRCS accepts applications for its conservation programs year-round, but farmers and landowners interested in funding during the current fiscal year should apply by their state's published ranking dates. Applications submitted after the ranking date will be automatically considered in future funding cycles.
FY 2026 First Ranking Period — Passed
The first-round batching deadline for FY 2026 was January 15, 2026. This deadline applied to the following programs:
- Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)
- Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP)
- Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP)
- Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA)
- Regenerative Agriculture Pilot Program (new in FY 2026)
Still Open
- Continuous applications: NRCS accepts applications for all programs year-round. If you missed the January deadline, apply now to be considered in the next funding cycle.
- Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG): National and state CIG deadlines will be announced later in the year.
- PL-566 and Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP): Open for eligible sponsors based on available funding.
What to Bring When You Apply
- Official tax ID (Social Security number or employer ID)
- Property deed or lease agreement
- Farm number (available from your local FSA office if you don't have one)
Next Steps
Contact your local NRCS district conservationist to ask about upcoming ranking deadlines and to start your application. Your local NRCS and FSA offices are typically in the same building.
This project was supported by USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Cooperative Agreement NR243A750003C105. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.
