Environmental Quality Incentives Program

 

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 voluntary program using partnerships with local, State, Tribal and Federal agencies, producer associations, and nonprofit organizations to provide flexible technical and financial assistance to install and maintain conservation practices include those related to organic production, that sustain food and fiber production. The purpose of this program is achieved through the implementation of structural, vegetative, and land management practices on eligible land. This program is funded through the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC). NRCS provides overall program administration and management.

Active 10.912 Natural Resources Conservation Service, Department of Agriculture C - Direct Payments For Specified Use; Z - Salaries and Expenses Not applicable. This program is authorized by Chapter 4 of Subtitle D of Title XII of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16 USC 3839aa--3839aa-8), effective February 7, 2014., Title XII, Part Subtitle D, Public Law 99- 198, 16 U.S.C. 3830
The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, Public Law 115-334
Public Law 117-169
Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 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. Preapplication coordination is not applicable. 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. 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. The participant develops an EQIP plan of operations that identifies what conservation practices they are proposing to implement. Technical assistance and conservation practice payments may be provided to apply needed conservation practices and land use adjustments within a time schedule specified by the conservation EQIP plan of operations. A contract with a participant may apply one or more structural, vegetative, and/or land management practices. 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. Not applicable. From 10 to 60 days. A participant may appeal any adverse determination. Not applicable. 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. 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. Not applicable. Natural Resources Conservation Service makes periodic random reviews of the operation and maintenance of the contract items during the life span of the conservation practice. Maintained in local NRCS office and Federal record centers for specified number of years. Statutory formula is not applicable to this assistance listing.

Matching is voluntary. 25%. EQIP payment rates may be up to 75 percent of the estimated incurred costs and up to 100 percent of income foregone related to certain conservation practices. Historically underserved producers, including socially disadvantaged, limited resource, or beginning farmers and ranchers, and tribal members, may be eligible for payment rates up to 90 percent for estimated incurred costs. Payment rates and estimated incurred costs are documented in agency developed and approved payment schedules.

This program has MOE requirements, see funding agency for further details. Additional Information: None 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. payment upon completion of practices. For more information on this and other related conservation programs, consult the local telephone directory where your land is located for location of the USDA service center. Information is available on the internet at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/programs/financial/eqip/. Ronnie Maurer, Acting Branch Chief, Programs Branch, Financial Assistance Programs Division
1400 Independence Avenue, SW; Room 4534-S
Washington, DC 20250 USA
ronnie.maurer@usda.gov
Phone: 2028196368 http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/ 12-1004-0-1-302 (Salaries and Expenses) FY 22$545,822,000.00; FY 23 est $621,760,000.00; FY 24 est $719,661,000.00; FY 21$515,527,000.00; FY 20$481,927,000.00; FY 19$427,763,000.00; FY 18$463,599,000.00; FY 17$404,716,000.00; FY 16$358,186,000.00; - (Direct Payments for Specified Use) FY 22$1,409,499,000.00; FY 23 est $1,693,517,000.00; FY 24 est $2,597,492,000.00; FY 21$1,371,209,000.00; FY 20$1,331,315,000.00; FY 19$1,329,565,000.00; FY 18$1,395,449,000.00; FY 17$1,253,638,000.00; FY 16$1,083,250,000.00; - Total EQIP conservation payments are limited to $450,000 in financial assistance per person or legal entity for contracts entered into between fiscal years 2019 through 2023, regardless of the number of contracts. Average contract payments are estimated to be $23,000. 7 CFR Part 1466. Program is announced through news media and in announcements to agricultural producers, farm and ranch owners and operators in the county. Program manuals, handbooks, and leaflets issued by NRCS. Not applicable.