How to Sign Up for an NRCS Conservation Program

To sign up for an NRCS conservation program and receive financial assistance, you'll first need to establish eligibility with the Farm Service Agency (FSA), which is often co-located with your local NRCS office. You'll also need to complete and submit the CPA-1200 form, which is your program application. Additionally, you'll likely need to have a conservation plan in place, which can be developed by an NRCS planner.

Here’s a step-by-step breakdown:

  1. Establish Eligibility with FSA:
    If you're new to USDA programs, you'll need to make an appointment with the local FSA office to get a farm number and ensure you meet eligibility requirements.
    Find Your Local USDA Office
  2. Complete the CPA-1200:
    This form is your official application for financial assistance from NRCS.
    View Application Forms
  3. Develop a Conservation Plan (if needed):
    If you don’t already have one, an NRCS planner will assess your property and help create a conservation plan tailored to your land and goals.
  4. Review Your Plan and Select Practices:
    Once your conservation plan is drafted, review it with your NRCS planner and select which practices to include in your program application.
  5. Submit Your Application:
    Submit your CPA-1200 and conservation plan to NRCS for review.
  6. Application Ranking and Selection:
    NRCS will rank applications based on priority, impact, and available funding. The highest-ranked projects are selected first.

Our FSA / NRCS Representative Services

We now offer a full-service representation option for landowners who want professional help navigating USDA conservation programs. With your authorization, we can act as your operational and conservation representative with both the Farm Service Agency (FSA) and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

This allows us to assist with eligibility setup, conservation planning coordination, and program enrollment for initiatives such as EQIP, CSP, and other NRCS conservation programs.

What’s Required to Get Started

To represent you and your property, we only need the following three documents:

  1. Limited Operational Use & Conservation Lease
    Establishes operational authority for conservation implementation.
    Download Operational Lease Agreement (PDF)
  2. Landowner Authorization & Release Letter
    Grants written consent for us to act on your behalf with FSA and NRCS.
    Download Authorization Letter (PDF)
  3. FSA Form AD-2047 – Customer Data Worksheet
    Required by FSA to establish or update your customer profile.
    Download AD-2047 Form (PDF)

How to Return the Forms

Once completed, you may:

If you have any questions while filling out the forms, we are happy to walk you through each step. Our goal is to make participation in conservation programs simple, clear, and stress-free for landowners.

After we receive your documents, we will coordinate directly with FSA and NRCS on your behalf to move your conservation project forward.

For additional details, refer to the official NRCS factsheet:
Download USDA Eligibility Factsheet (PDF)

You can also visit your local USDA Service Center or explore the NRCS Applications and Forms Page for more guidance.