Environmental Quality Incentives Program

EQIP promotes agricultural production, forest management, and environmental quality as compatible national goals and optimizes environmental benefits on eligible land with farmers, ranchers, and non-industrial private forest land owners. It is a volu

Technical assistance is provided for conservation planning, design and implementation of conservation practices for eligible participants. Payments may be made to implement one or more eligible structural, vegetative, and land management conservation practices. Fifty percent of the funding available for assistance shall be targeted at practices relating to livestock production. Ten percent of the funding available for assistance shall be targeted at practices relating to wildlife habitat.

Agricultural producers who face serious threats to soil, water, and related natural resources, or who need assistance with complying with Federal and State environment laws. A participant may be an owner, landlord, operator, or tenant of eligible agricultural lands or non-industrial forestlands. Limited resource producers, small-scale producers, social disadvantaged individuals, federally recognized Indian tribal governments, Alaska natives, and Pacific Islanders are encouraged to apply.

To be eligible the agricultural producers must be in compliance with highly erodible land and wetland conservation provisions and in compliance with the Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) payment limitations.

Evidence that applicant has control over the land to be entered into a contract and submits an acceptable conservation plan for the farm or ranch unit of concern that incorporates needed natural resource conservation practices and provides either a social security number or individual tax identification number of all proposed beneficiaries. Applicants claiming either limited resource producer or beginning farmer, or veteran farmer classification may be asked to provide documents to justify their claim. NRCS requires all program payments be made by direct deposit unless the participant requests a waiver as described in 31 CFR Part 208.4, paragraph (a).

Technical assistance is provided for conservation planning, design and implementation of conservation practices for eligible participants. Financial assistance is provided for implementation of structural, vegetative and land management practices. Payments may be made to implement one or more eligible structural, vegetative, and land management conservation practices. Fifty percent of the funding available for assistance shall be targeted at practices relating to livestock production. Ten percent of the funding available for assistance shall be targeted at practices relating to wildlife habitat.

An EQIP contract expires after the last planned practice is implemented but cannot be longer than 10 years. Obligations for assistance are tied to the schedule for applying conservation practices included in the EQIP plan of operations used as the basis for the contract. Payments are made when the participant and NRCS certify that the conservation practice is completed in accordance with NRCS standards and specifications. Technical assistance may be provided by a certified Technical Service Provider (TSP). The participant may not engage a TSP prior to contract approval.

Program participation is voluntary. The applicant applies at the local USDA Service Center on Form NRCS-CPA-1200. Applications may be filed at any time during the year.

Applications will be periodically ranked and selected for funding based on the cost-effectiveness of the conversation practices; the environmental benefits derived; extent to which the contract will assist the applicant in complying with Federal, State, tribal or local environmental laws; whether the land is located in a priority area and the extent the contract will assist the priority area goals and objectives. Applications will be funded in the priority order until the available funds are exhausted.

NRCS will give special consideration to applicants that address priority natural resource concerns designated. Applications will be periodically ranked and selected for funding based on locally developed ranking process.

From 10 to 90 days.

A participant may appeal any adverse determination.