Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)

Providing technical, financial, and educational assistance to farmers and ranchers to address significant natural resource concerns and objectives

The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) was reauthorized in the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (Farm Bill) to provide a voluntary conservation program for farmers and ranchers that promotes agricultural production and environmental quality as compatible national goals. EQIP offers financial and technical help to assist eligible participants install or implement structural and management practices on eligible agricultural land.

EQIP offers contracts with a minimum term that ends 1 year after the implementation of the last scheduled practices and a maximum term of 10 years. These contracts provide incentive payments and cost-shares to implement conservation practices.

People engaged in livestock or agricultural production on eligible land may participate in the EQIP program. EQIP activities are carried out according to an environmental quality incentives program plan of operations developed in conjunction with the producer.

The plan identifies the appropriate conservation practice or practices to address the resource concerns. The practices are subject to NRCS technical standards adapted for local conditions. The local conservation district approves the plan.

Application and Financial Information
EQIP may share up to 75 percent of the costs of certain conservation practices. Incentive payments may be provided for up to 3 years to encourage producers to carry out management practices they may not otherwise use without the incentive.

However, limited-resource producers and beginning farmers and ranchers may be eligible for cost-shares for up to 90 percent. Farmers and ranchers may elect to use a certified third-party provider for technical assistance. An individual or entity may not receive, directly or indirectly, cost-share or incentive payments that, in the aggregate, exceed $450,000 for all EQIP contracts entered during the term of the Farm Bill.

EQIP offers 5- to 10-year contracts that provide incentive payments and cost sharing for conservation practices called for in a site-specific plan. Incentive payments are made to enable a producer to perform a land management practice that would not otherwise be initiated without financial assistance. The payments may reimburse the producer for a percentage of the costs of carrying out the practice, but not for longer than 3 years.

Land management practices are conservation practices that require site-specific techniques and methods to conserve natural resources. Examples include nutrient management, manure management, integrated pest management, irrigation water management, grazing management, and wildlife habitat management.

EQIP also provides cost-share assistance for up to 75 percent of the cost of vegetative and structural conservation practices, such as grassed waterways, filter strips, manure management facilities, and wildlife habitat enhancement. Contract applications are accepted throughout the year.

Eligibility, Uses, and Restrictions
Only people who are engaged in agricultural production can apply for this program. Eligible land includes cropland, rangeland, pasture, forest land, and other farm or ranch lands.

All activities under this program must work toward conservation of natural resources. All approved applicants are responsible for developing and submitting a conservation plan that will address the situation on the applicant's land relevant to the identified conservation needs or objectives that are to be addressed.

A conservation plan is developed by the producer, with the assistance of NRCS or other public or private natural resource professionals, with approval by the local conservation district. The plan is used to establish an EQIP contract.

Contact
For more information about EQIP, visit the website or contact your local or the national NRCS office.

Anthony Esser, Program Manager
National Program Office
Environmental Quality Incentives Program
PO Box 2890
Washington, DC 20013-2890
Phone: (202) 720-1840; Fax: (202) 720-4265
E-mail: anthony.esser@usda.gov

Internet
www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/eqip/

Last Updated January 24, 2005