Through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service provides a voluntary conservation program for farmers and ranchers to promote agricultural production and environmental quality as compatible national goals. EQIP priorities in Arkansas are to reduce erosion; reduce pollution from animal wastes, nutrients and sediments; improve irrigation and reduce dependence on ground water for irrigation; forest improvements; improve grazing lands; and improve wildlife habitat.

The Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) is a voluntary program providing financial and technical assistance promoting the conservation and improvement of soil, water, air, energy, plant and animal life, and other conservation purposes on Tribal and private working lands. The 2008 Farm Bill replaced the Conservation Security Program with the new Conservation Stewardship Program for fiscal years 2009 through 2017. The program may enroll more than 12.7 million acres each fiscal year. Acreage will be allocated based primarily on each state's or area's proportion of eligible acres to the total number of all eligible acres. The 2008 Farm Bill provides for funding for all current Conservation Security Program contracts.

The Wetlands Reserve Easements (WRE) is a voluntary program offering landowners the opportunity to protect, restore, and enhance wetlands on their property. The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service provides technical and financial support to help landowners with wetland restoration. The NRCS goal is to achieve the greatest wetland functions and values, along with optimum wildlife habitat. This program offers landowners an opportunity to establish long-term conservation and wildlife practices and protection. Arkansas ranks second in the nation in number of acres enrolled.

The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) is a voluntary program for agricultural landowners. Through CRP, you can receive annual rental payments and cost-share assistance to establish long-term, resource conserving covers on eligible farmland. CRP protects millions of acres of American topsoil from erosion and is designed to safeguard the Nation's natural resources. By reducing water runoff and sedimentation, CRP protects groundwater and helps improve the condition of lakes, rivers, ponds, and streams. Acreage enrolled in the CRP is planted to resource-conserving vegetative covers, making the program a major contributor to increased wildlife populations in many parts of the country.
CRP is administered by the USDA Farm Service Agency http://www.fsa.usda.gov/

The Conservation Technical Assistance (CTA) Program provides technical assistance supported by science technology and tools to help people conserve, maintain, and improve natural resources on their land. The CTA program provides the technical capability, including conservation planning, design and implementation provided to individuals, groups, and communities who make natural resource management decisions on private, tribal, and other non-federal lands. NRCS, through the CTA Program, provides conservation technical assistance to address state and national natural resource conservation issues.

NRCS Programs

Environmental Quality Incentives Program 

EQIP

Conservation Stewardship Program 

CSP

Wetlands Reserve Easements

WRE

Conservation Reserve Program

CRP

Conservation Technical Assistance

CTA