The Farm Bill provides funding for over 20 programs and subprograms administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Farm Service Agency (FSA) within the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). These varied agricultural conservation programs contain different approaches and opportunities to protect water and soil, as well as other natural resources and wildlife on private agricultural lands. Details on who qualifies for each program, what conservation practices are prioritized, the regional scope, and the amount of funding abounds.  

This resource page serves as a launchpad for learning about conservation programs authorized through the Farm Bill. The resources below are categorized as: 

• Resources published by federal government agencies 
• Resources on federal programs developed by non-profits, agricultural organizations, and academic institutions 
• Resources on state-level agricultural conservation programs & how states can tap into federal funding
• Acronym Key 

For an introduction, read “What Does the Farm Bill Have to Do with Water Conservation?” on our blog. Check out the Clean Water For All 2023 Farm Bill Priorities webinar, which includes an overview of the Farm Bill, areas of improvement, and how to engage in the process.

Resources from Non-Profits, Agricultural Associations, & Academic Institutions  

• Build a Farm Bill That Works for You, #fundedbyFarmBill campaign
  • This website provides an overview of Farm Bill programs and how to engage in action alerts related to the 2023 Farm Bill. Created by a coalition of sustainable agriculture organizations and farmers.
• Building Sustainable Farms, Ranches and Communities: A guide to Federal Programs for Sustainable Agriculture, Forestry, Entrepreneurship, Conservation, Food Systems and Community Development 
  • Produced in 2020 by Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE), Michael Fields Agricultural Institute, National Center for Appropriate Technology, and the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) – This publication covers programs beyond conservation, we suggest starting on page 45 for details on agricultural conservation programs and funding– from NRCS, EPA, USFS, & FSA. 
• Grassroots Guide to Federal Farm and Food Programs (Conservation and Environment chapter) 
  • National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition’s (NSAC) – Guide contains program history and overviews, eligibility info, how to apply, and program resources.  
• Farmers’ Guide to CART: NRCS’s New Conservation Planning, Resource Assessment, and Program Application Tool 
  • NSAC provides this introduction to NRCS’s Conservation Assessment and Ranking Tool.  
• Closed Out: How U.S. Farmers are Denied Access to Conservation Programs 
  • Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy – Written by Michael Happ, Sept 2021. Details the gap between limited conservation program funding and demand/interest from agricultural producers, specifically with Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP). Provides recommended changes.  
• Farm Bill Law Enterprise Background Library 
  • Title 2 Conservation Summary 
  • Farm Bill Law Enterprise (FBLE), an organization composed of law school members – Library features overviews of the history of the Farm Bill and the legislative process of passing the Farm Bill. 
• Farm Service Agency Loans: The Ins and Outs of Growing a Farm with Federal Loans
  • The National Young Farmers Coalition develops digestible and compelling resources, including this FSA guide- and advocates for Farm Bill changes that increase conservation funding in equitable, impactful ways.

Program-Specific Resources

• ACEP-ALE Resources and Tools 
  • Produced by the Farmland Information Center and NRCS – Curated resources and tools to navigate ACEP-ALE for landowners, land trusts, and public farmland protection entities.
• ACEP-ALE Buy-Protect-Sell Transaction Fact Sheet 
  • Farmland Information Center – fact sheet on participating in ACEP-ALE using a buy-protect-sell transaction 
• ACEP-ALE Action Center
  • Land Trust Alliance – Provides history of ACEP-ALE program, introduction to NRCS, videos of how ACEP-ALE works, application guide, document library, and more.  
• Mapping the money: An analysis of spending under the Conservation Stewardship Program 
  • Center for Rural Affairs – Anna Johnson (2021) provides analysis of CSP funding and demand.
• Farmers’ Guide to the Conservation Stewardship Program 
  • NSAC (2020 edition) – Covers the steps involved in applying for and using CSP. 

State-Level Agricultural Conservation Programs

Looking for information on state-level agricultural conservation programs? Explore these resources and be on the lookout for new updates on River Network’s State Policy Hub regarding state-level conservation funding opportunities and future State Policy Showcases.

• State Directory of Departments of Agriculture  
  • National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) – This nonpartisan, nonprofit association represents departments of agriculture in all 50 states and 4 US territories.
• Water Investment Ready Oregon: Accessing Federal Water Funding 
  • Willamette Partnership – This report, published in 2021, summarizes Oregon’s success in securing funding from federal programs over the past 12 years and outlines what actions the state might take to increase federal water investment.  The methodology and results may serve as a beacon for other states. 
• Innovative State-Level Efforts To Finance Agricultural Conservation 
  • Environmental Defense Fund (Maggie Monast and Mark Rupp), National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) (Britt Aasmundstad), and Duke University (John Feldmann and Vincent Gauthier) – This report examines state sources of funding for conservation programs and the financing tools and structures that deliver incentives to farmers.