Environmental Quality Incentives Program:

EQIP provides financial and technical assistance to agricultural producers in order to address natural resource concerns and deliver environmental benefits such as improved water and air quality, conserved ground and surface water, reduced soil erosion and sedimentation or improved or created wildlife habitat.

Benefits
Eligible program participants receive financial and technical assistance to
implement conservation practices, or activities  like conservation planning, that address natural resource concerns  on their land. Payments are made to participants after conservation practices and activities identified in an EQIP plan of operations are implemented. Contracts can last up to ten years in duration.

Eligibility
Agricultural producers and owners of non-industrial private forestland and
Tribes are eligible to apply for EQIP. Eligible land includes cropland,
rangeland, pastureland, non-industrial private forestland and other farm or ranch lands.

Socially disadvantaged, beginning and limited resource farmers, Indian
tribes and veterans are eligible for an increased payment rate and may receive advance payment of up to 50 percent to purchase materials and services needed to implement conservation practices included in their EQIP contract.

Applicants must:
        > Control or own eligible land
        > Comply with adjusted gross income limitation (AGI) provisions
        > Be in compliance with highly erodible and wetland requirments
        > Develop an NRCS EQIP plan of operations

How to Apply
Visit your local USDA Service Center to apply or visit www.nrcs.usda.gov/getstarted.

NRCS will help eligible producers develop an EQIP plan of operations, which will become the basis of the EQIP contract.

EQIP applications will be ranked based on a number of factors, including
the environmental benefits and cost effectiveness of the proposal.


More Information
EQIP Fact Sheet (PDF, 1.6MB)

To learn how to get started with NRCS, visit www.nrcs.usda.gov/getstarted


*From http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/programs/financial/eqip/