A five-minute preparation check
Could this fit my operation?
Five questions can show what is already in place and what may need attention. This is not an eligibility test and it does not submit anything to USDA.
Do you have current customer and farm records with your local Farm Service Agency office?
Do you control the ground long enough to complete a conservation practice?
Is the ground currently part of an agricultural operation?
Do you know whether this ground has been included in a similar USDA conservation contract?
Are you ready to begin planning for the next available program cycle?
If the first conversation makes sense
What the path may look like.
Exact timing and requirements depend on the producer, the ground, the local office, and the applicable program cycle.
- 01
Start with the basics
Use a short form or conversation to describe the ground. Nothing at this stage is a USDA application.
- 02
Review written terms
If you choose Native American Carbon Alliance, review a separate service agreement and decide what communication authority, if any, to provide.
- 03
Coordinate local planning
The producer and the appropriate NRCS staff identify the resource concern, site conditions, and practice requirements.
- 04
Prepare the application
The plan and supporting information should be complete before the applicable ranking deadline. The local office controls the official process.
- 05
Wait for a written decision
Do not begin the contracted practice before the producer has an executed USDA contract and has confirmed the implementation requirements.
- 06
Complete and document the work
If funded, carry out the approved practice to the contract standard and follow the required certification and payment process.