CSP Application Ranking

Deadline: May 01, 2026. NRCS CSP application ranking period. Check your state NRCS for exact dates.

Ask your local NRCS office: When does my state rank CSP applications? What factors boost my ranking score? Should I apply this year or wait until I've built more conservation practices? What's the typical funding level for farms like mine?

Ask your State Energy Coordinator: What renewable systems does your state prioritize? How long does the application process take? Are there matching-fund requirements? Does your farm operation size affect award size?

Ask Rural Utilities Service: Does my county have an active disaster declaration? What water infrastructure qualifies? What's the co-fund expectation? Is RD Apply the only submission method, or are alternatives available?

Ask your local Rural Housing Service office: What counts as an essential community facility? Is my county still under a disaster declaration? If repair costs are $100,000, can I reasonably expect $75,000 in grant funds? What documentation do I need?

Ask your regional Forest Service office: What counts as eligible evaluation work? Are there matching fund requirements? What's the typical award size for projects like mine?

Ask your university's research office: Are we preparing an application? Does our work fit the 'Strengthening Agricultural Systems' focus? What's our deadline for internal submission?

Texas A&M Forest Service received $15.7M for community wildfire protection plans and implementation projects in at-risk Texas areas. This may fund either developing new wildfire protection plans or carrying out projects in existing plans less than ten years old. If you farm or ranch in a high-wildfire-hazard Texas county, contact your county extension office to learn if community planning efforts are underway.

Sweet Home Fire & Ambulance District in Oregon received $8.7M to reduce fire fuels, boost wildfire preparedness, and lower risk in communities at the wildland-urban edge. Relevant if you farm near forested areas or in the district's zone—fuel reduction work may affect access or create opportunities for clearing. Check with your local fire district or county Extension agent about any preparedness programs or land-management resources now available in your area.

Texas Boll Weevil Eradication Foundation received $8.0M to eradicate boll weevil from the Lower Rio Grande Valley, the last U.S. area with active infestations, using aerial applications of malathion in quarantine zones. Cotton growers in the LRGV may see aerial spray operations on commercial cotton; this is a cooperative effort between USDA and the foundation. Contact your local USDA office if you grow cotton in the Valley and have questions about spray schedules.

Idaho received $7.5M for wildfire hazard reduction on private lands near Interstate 90 and critical transportation routes. The work focuses on removing dangerous fuel buildup to protect property, lives, and water sources while improving emergency response. If your operation sits near I-90 or state/federal forest boundaries, contact Idaho Department of Lands to see if your land may qualify for fuel-reduction work.

Prairie View A&M University received $7.4M to provide Extension services in selected Texas counties, focusing on quality of life, natural resources, food security, and community resilience. Programming supports families and communities solving everyday agricultural and community problems through research-based education. Texas residents in Prairie View's service area may benefit from this outreach — check with your county office to confirm coverage.