USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service has accelerated conservation program funding decisions through its “Act Now” process, which enables states to pre-approve applications when they meet or exceed a state’s pre-determined minimum ranking score.
What is Act Now?
USDA-NRCS has accelerated conservation program funding decisions through its “Act Now” process. Act Now allows NRCS to quickly approve and obligate a ranked application in a designated ranking pool when an eligible application meets or exceeds a State-established minimum ranking score without waiting for all applications to be ranked and preapproved in that ranking pool.
Applications eligible for any of the identified Act Now ranking pools listed below will be accepted on a continuous sign-up basis in the order received until the applicable application deadline. Any application that ranks at or above the State-established threshold ranking score will be preapproved as funds are available.
After the last ranking deadline, if funding is still available, applications with ranking scores less than the State-established threshold ranking score may be preapproved in ranking order.
Act Now for NRCS Wisconsin Programs
NRCS Wisconsin will use the Act Now process for some Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) funding pools and initiatives through May 16, 2025.
Act Now Fund Pools for Wisconsin
For fiscal year 2025, NRCS is offering Act Now starting January 1, 2025, and ending May 16, 2025. Act Now applications will be batched and processed in the order they are received, with selections made monthly.
Mississippi River Basin Healthy Watersheds Initiative (MRBI)
Minimum Threshold Ranking Score: 30 Points
National Water Quality Initiative (NWQI)
Minimum Threshold Ranking Score: 30 Points
Socially Disadvantaged (SD)
Minimum Threshold Ranking Score: 20 Points
Additional Information
Act Now
USDA-NRCS has accelerated conservation program funding decisions through its “Act Now” process, which enables states to pre-approve applications when they meet or exceed a state’s pre-determined minimum ranking score.
