Farmers will want to plan ahead and sign up early for USDA conservation funding. Jimmy Bramblett, USDA−Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) State Conservationist in Wisconsin, announced that farmers interested in the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) need to apply by October 2, 2015, for funding in 2016. Applications are being taken at all USDA Service Centers in Wisconsin.

EQIP is the primary program available to farmers for farm and woodland conservation work, offering payments for over 90 basic conservation practices. Last year, Wisconsin received about $23 mi...