Environmental Quality Incentives Program
Program Funding
Annual program obligations reported to SAM.gov.
Funded Projects
Examples of what this program has supported.
Program Objective
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 voluntary program using partnerships with local, State, Tribal and Federal agencies, producer associations, and nonprofit organizations to provide flexible technical and financial assistance to implement and maintain structural, vegetative, and land management conservation practices, including practices related to organic production.
Eligibility
Eligible Applicants
- Unrestricted by Entity Type
- Unrestricted by Individual Type
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.
How to Apply
Award Procedure
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.
Program details & compliance
Description
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.
Mission Categories
Primary: Production and Operation
Other categories:
ForestryAgriculture Stabilization and ConservationSustainable Agricultural Systems
Use of Funds
Allowed Uses
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.
Restrictions
$300,000- $450,000 per person/entity payment limit over 6 years (up to $80,000 for organic-related practices), compliance with highly erodible land/wetland rules, and a 10-year maximum contract duration.
Required Documentation
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).
Reporting & Compliance
Applicable 2 CFR 200 Subparts
- Subpart B — General Provisions
- Subpart C — Pre-Federal Award Requirements
- Subpart D — Post-Federal Award Requirements
- Subpart E — Cost Principles
- Subpart F — Audit Requirements
Formula
No additional information.