Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) 2009

EQIP General Program Description

The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) is a voluntary conservation program administered by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). It supports production agriculture and environmental quality as compatible goals. Through EQIP, farmers and ranchers may receive financial and technical assistance to implement structural and land management conservation practices on eligible agricultural land.

Eligible producers are individuals engaged in livestock or crop production. Eligible land includes cropland, rangeland, pasture, and private non-industrial forestland. State priorities are developed annually from input from local workgroups based on county resource assessments and individual plans to address those local needs. A State Technical Committee comprised of representation from these local work groups, Tribal groups, commodity groups, and conservation partners advise NRCS on the implementation of EQIP.

EQIP activities are carried out according to a site specific conservation plan developed in conjunction with the producer. All conservation practices are installed according to NRCS technical standards. Producers may elect to use an approved technical service provider for technical assistance.

EQIP offers contracts with a minimum term of one year after the implementation of the last scheduled practice and a maximum term of ten years. Total cost share and incentive payments are limited to $300,000 per individual over a six-year period, regardless of the number of farms or contracts. Eligibility for EQIP is subject to the Adjusted Gross Income provision of the 2008 Farm Bill and highly erodible land and wetland conversion provisions.

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Interim Final Rule for EQIP
Environmental Quality Incentives Program "At a glance"

2009 EQIP General Program Description Documents

Financial assistance rates, ranking criteria and conservation practices are the same for every Michigan county. 

The following documents require Adobe Acrobat.
How EQIP Works in Michigan
Approved Practices List
Ranking Criteria
Air Quality Ranking Criteria
CNMP Ranking Criteria
Forest Management Plan Ranking Criteria
Forestry Ranking Criteria
Organic Initiative Ranking Criteria
Specialty Crop Ranking Criteria
Payment Schedule for Practices (Revised 6-09)

Forms

The following documents require Adobe Acrobat.

NRCS-CPA-1200, Conservation Program Contract & Appendix
 

Links to Other Useful Documents for the 2008 EQIP Program

Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative

The Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative is a voluntary conservation initiative that enables the use of certain conservation programs with resources of eligible partners to provide financial and technical assistance to owners and operators of agricultural and nonindustrial private forest lands. Under CCPI, the Natural Resources Conservation Service enters into partnership agreements with eligible entities that want to enhance conservation outcomes on agricultural and nonindustrial private forest lands.

During fiscal year 2009, NRCS will make Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) funds and when approved and available, Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) benefits to owners and operators of agricultural and nonindustrial private forest lands who participate in approved CCPI projects.

As authorized by Congress, this is not a grant program to eligible partners. This is a program whereby approved eligible partners will enter into multi-year agreements with NRCS to help enhance conservation outcomes on agricultural lands and private nonindustrial private forest lands. The intent of CCPI is for the Federal government to leverage investment in natural resources conservation along with services and resources of non-Federal partners.

National CCPI Web page

The following document requires Adobe Acrobat.

Notice for CCPI proposals
"CCPI at a Glance"

Conservation Innovation Grants

The CIG program is designed to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies. For FY 2009, up to $20 million is available for the National CIG competition. Funds for single- or multi-year projects, not to exceed three years, will be awarded through a nationwide competitive grants process.

More information about CIG

Contact

To apply for EQIP, contact your local USDA Service Center. 
Michigan Field Office Directory

For general questions about EQIP contact the Michigan NRCS EQIP Coordinator.

EQIP Coordinator
Brian MacMaster
Phone:  (517) 324-5256
E-mail: brian.macmaster@mi.usda.gov

Last Modified 06/05/2009