The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Alabama announced an extension to the deadline to submit applications for the Urban Agriculture Initiative The new application deadline will be Monday, May 15, 2023.

Alabama is offering financial assistance to assist urban growers in areas such as: Soil Health, Erosion Control, Irrigation and Water Conservation, Weeds and Pests, Pollinator Habitat, and High Tunnels.  Five Urbanized Areas within the State are a part of the pilot initiative for Fiscal Year 2023, and include:

• Birmingham/Bessemer
• Dothan
• Huntsville
• Mobile
• Montgomery

Please refer to the included maps(attached) of the eligible initiative areas and contact your local field office to determine whether your operation is located within the project boundaries. Eligible conservation practices through this initiative include those that promote soil health, reduce erosion, and lessen nutrient runoff, such as cover crops, nutrient and pest management, and Seasonal High Tunnels. “As American agriculture continues to grow in new directions, NRCS conservation assistance will grow along with it.” said Ben Malone, State Conservationist.  “This initiative will build off of work done previously in the Birmingham area and allow us to expand and target the delivery of our conservation efforts to more of our growing number of urban producers across the state.”  Producers interested in participating in the Urban Ag Initiative and meet eligibility criteria should contact their local NRCS District Conservationist.

NRCS accepts applications for conservation programs year-round, but applications are ranked and funded by enrollment periods that are set locally. Applications signed and submitted to NRCS by the Monday, May 15, 2023, deadline will be evaluated for fiscal year 2023 funding. Special emphasis participants like socially disadvantaged, limited resource, new and beginning, and eligible military veteran farmers and ranchers are eligible for a higher payment rate. In addition, these historically underserved farmers and ranchers are eligible for a 50 percent advanced payment for purchasing materials or contracting to help with practice implementation in EQIP.

For more information about Alabama NRCS and Programmatic initiatives, priorities, and assessment/ranking criteria, visit online at www.al.nrcs.usda.gov. Additionally, visit your local USDA Service Center to determine eligibility; applicants are not eligible for USDA programs until they have ensured all Farm Bill eligibility requirements have been met. You can locate your local Service Center at http://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (866) 632-9992 (Toll-free Customer Service), (800) 877-8339 (Local or Federal relay), (866) 377-8642 (Relay voice users).

Original source can be found here