IL NRCS Announces 2023 RCPP Application Cutoff Date: Kinkaid Lake Restoration Project

State Conservationist Ivan Dozier announced that the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will offer Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) funding for the Kinkaid Lake Restoration Project throughout the Lake Kinkaid watershed. Illinois NRCS has partnered with Kinkaid-Reed's Conservancy District to help producers address resource concerns such as erosion on farmland and degraded plant conditions.

Landowners can apply for assistance through RCPP to implement practices such as cover crops, forest stand improvement, and water and sediment control structures. The project focus is to improve water and forest quality in the Lake Kinkaid watershed located in Jackson County, IL.

NRCS financial assistance will be available to Illinois producers with land in the above-mentioned county. While applications are accepted throughout the year, interested producers should submit by March 3, 2023 a signed application (NRCS-CPA-1200 form) to the local NRCS field office, or through the Farmers.gov website using their account, to ensure their applications are considered for 2023 funding.

A blank NRCS-CPA-1200 application form may be obtained from the local office or the NRCS website. Producers wishing to use Farmers.gov, can sign in or create an account by clicking on "Sign up" in the upper right portion of the website.

To see if you are eligible to participate in the program, producers should contact their local NRCS field office or visit the Illinois NRCS website.