2022 Environmental Quality Incentives Program

For additional information on Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) please visit the following links.
 

The sign-up date for EQIP-CIC is March 4, 2022. For further information please contact your local NRCS office.

 

NRCS North Dakota Announces Source Water Quality funding opportunity in Walsh County

North Dakota Natural Resources Conservation Service announces a funding opportunity through the Environmental Quality Incentives – National Water Quality Incentive program to address water quality resource concerns in Walsh County.

In cooperation with Local and State stakeholders NRCS was able to secure funding to address resource concerns related to source water quality. Eligible Landowners/Producers can apply for funding to install conservation crop rotations, residue management, cover crop, nutrient management forage and biomass plantings along with other practices which address source water quality. In eligible participants may apply for development of an irrigation management plan.

Individuals interested in participating in this opportunity should contact their local NRCS office. The application deadline is December 31, 2021. 
 

Northern Plains Water Quality and Wildlife Program

Location Availability: Throughout North Dakota
Application Deadline: June 3, 2022

The Northern Plains Water Quality and Wildlife Program is a new funding opportunity available through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). When enrolled, producers are eligible for payment on cropped wetlands, two acres or less in size as identified on the National Wetland Inventory, and with intact hydrology. The payment rate will differ by region.

Producers within the Prairie Pothole Region of North Dakota, that have unmanipulated wetlands of 2 acres or less within working cropland, will be able to sign up for this new opportunity. NRCS will work with applicants to determine which wetlands are eligible based off the National Wetlands Inventory. Once the wetlands are deemed eligible, producers will then need to decide which of the 3 available levels of management is appropriate for their operation.

• Level 1 - This option implements conservation cover and permanent vegetation on wetlands that are wholly or partially in cropland.
• Level 2  - Producer agrees to the cession of cropping and maintenance of hydrology that will provide adequate forage and cover in areas where normal cropland production restricts the growth of cover and forage sources.
• Level 3 - Provides that crops and annual vegetation will not be harvested during the primary nesting season as identified by the habitat evaluation guide. 
   

North Dakota Joint Chiefs Landscape Restoration Partnership (JCLRP)

Location Availability: Billings, Golden Valley, McKenzie and Slope Counties
Application Deadline: April 1, 2022

North Dakota NRCS and North Dakota USFS area announcing a second batching period for 2022. The ND JCLRP Badlands restoration project will focus on managing native ponderosa pine and rocky mountain juniper stands with mechanical or chemical treatments. By managing these stands producers are reducing fuels and threat of wildfire to communities and private property.
 

Environmental Quality Incentives Program - Grazing Reserved Rights Easements

North Dakota NRCS is announcing a funding opportunity through the Environmental Quality Incentive Program to assist landowners with closed Wetland Reserve Easements - Grazing  Reserved Rights easements with improving grassland, wildlife and wetland resources associated with these lands. Applications are accepted year round. A batching period will be announced. For more information please contact your local NRCS Office.
 

North Dakota NRCS is Announcing Funding Opportunities Through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program to Assist Landowners with Locally Identified Resource Concerns.

The following descriptions details each projects objective, location availability and application deadlines.

Windbreak and Shelterbelt Establishment and Improvement
Location Availability: Within Bowman-Slope Soil Conservation District Boundary
Application Deadline: March 4, 2022

North Dakota NRCS, in partnership with Bowman-Slope Soil Conservation District is announcing a funding opportunity through the Environmental Quality Incentive Program to assist landowners in addressing multiple local resource concerns though the establishment of tree and shrub plantings. The primary resource concerns identified are inadequate habitat for wildlife, livestock protection limitations and inadequate livestock shelter, inefficient energy use in equipment and facilities and to increase early season pollinator food sources.

Windbreak and Shelterbelt Establishment and Improvement
Location Availability: McHenry and Pierce Counties
Application Deadline: March 4, 2022

North Dakota NRCS, in partnership with North McHenry County SCD, South McHenry County SCD, and Pierce County SCD is announcing a funding opportunity through the Environmental Quality Incentive Program to assist landowners in completing windbreak/shelterbelt renovations and tree plantings.   The partnership is focused on meeting landowner needs by utilizing windbreak/shelterbelts to protect crop fields, farmsteads, roadways, livestock feeding areas and to provide habitat for wildlife including pollinators.

High Tunnels - Farming the Frost
Location Availability: Throughout North Dakota
Application Deadline: March 4, 2022

North Dakota NRCS, in partnership with Morton County SCD, Burleigh County SCD, Wild Rice SCD, and Dakota College of Bottineau is announcing a funding opportunity through the Environmental Quality Incentive Program to assist landowners with design and installation of High Tunnels and supporting conservation practices. Examples of High Tunnels include Gothic, Quonset Style and Small High Tunnel (Intensive Sun).  Supporting practices include: Cover Crops, Residue and Tillage Management, Conservation Crop Rotation, Irrigation System Micro irrigation, Critical Area Planting and Roof Runoff Structure.
 

Environmental Quality Incentives Program -
Conservation Incentive Contract (EQIP-CIC)

Announcing a new funding opportunity through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program - Conservation Incentive Contract (EQIP-CIC).  

The purpose and focus of EQIP-CIC is Climate Smart Agriculture, Forestry, and drought mitigation. EQIP-CIC provides payments for incentive practices and can be a steppingstone for producers between EQIP and the Conservation Stewardship program.   

The entire state of North Dakota is considered a High Priority Area, with Grasslands (Range and Pasture) and Associated Ag Lands being the land uses eligible for EQIP-CIC. In Fiscal Year 2022, applicants must address one or more of the following priority resource concerns to be eligible for EQIP-CIC: Degraded Plant Condition, Terrestrial Habitat or Livestock Production Limitation. 

A key feature to EQIP-CIC is that the contracts will be for a minimum of five years, and must have a management practice planned on the contracted acreage. Supporting conservation practices may be contracted if needed to facilitate the management practice. Payments for EQIP-CIC will follow existing EQIP payment schedules.