United States Department of Agriculture
Natural Resources Conservation Service
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Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) 2010

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.

EQIP Programs

Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative

Conservation Innovation Grants

Agricultural Water Enhancement Program

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

2010 EQIP General Program Description Documents

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

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How EQIP Works in Michigan
Payment Schedule for Practices
EQIP Funding Pools Map
EQIP Funding Pools Text Version
Ranking Tools
Air Quality Ranking Tool
Animal Waste Ranking Tool
Beginning Farmer Ranking Tool
Socially Disadvantaged Ranking Tool
Tribal Ranking Tool
Frigid Soils North
Crop Land Ranking Tool
Forest Land Ranking Tool
Pasture Land Ranking Tool
Frigid Soil South
Crop Land Ranking Tool
Forest Land Ranking Tool
Pasture Land Ranking Tool
Mesic Soils East
Crop Land Ranking Tool
Forest Land Ranking Tool
Pasture Land Ranking Tool
Mesic Soils West
Crop Land Ranking Tool
Forest Land Ranking Tool
Pasture Land Ranking Tool
Program Sheets
Woody Fruit Vegetation Removal
Plate Cooler Water Re-use
Management of Anaerobic Digester
Invasive Species Plan

Irrigation Water Management

Forms

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NRCS-CPA-1200, Conservation Program Contract & Appendix
 

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

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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

 

Agricultural Water Enhancement Program

The Agricultural Water Enhancement Program (AWEP) is a voluntary conservation initiative that provides financial and technical assistance to agricultural producers to implement agricultural water enhancement activities on agricultural land for the purposes of conserving surface and ground water and improving water quality. As part of the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, AWEP operates through contracts with producers to plan and implement conservation practices in project areas established through partnership agreements.

Under AWEP, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) enters into partnership agreements with eligible entities that want to promote ground and surface water conservation or improve water quality on agricultural lands. The Secretary of Agriculture has delegated the authority for AWEP to the NRCS Chief.

AWEP

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2009 Map of area eligible for AWEP assistance

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.

Steve Law, EQIP Coordinator
Phone:  (517) 324-5282
E-mail: steven.law@mi.usda.gov

Last Modified 02/02/2010