Skip to main content

2025 Environmental Quality Incentives Program

2025 Environmental Quality Incentives Program - North Dakota

North Dakota Announces the Environmental Quality Incentives Program – Wildfire Disaster Assistance

Areas of North Dakota (ND) experienced devastating wildfires in October 2024. ND has designated funds to help install destroyed practices in the affected counties. Applicants must submit a separate application for special one-time funding opportunities, such as for disaster events. The ACT NOW process will be utilized to preapprove and obligate contracts in an expedited manner. Applications will be processed through January 31, 2025.

Minimum Ranking Threshold: 10 points

Current Approved Locations: Dunn, McKenzie, McLean, Williams Counties

Approved Practices:

  • Conservation Cover
  • Windbreak/Shelterbelt Establishment
  • Fence
  • Pasture & Hay Planting
  • Range Planting
  • Watering Facility

NRCS North Dakota Announces the Environmental Quality Incentives Program – Organic Transition Initiative (EQIP - OTI) Opportunity

The OTI provides funding to support producers transitioning to organic production by providing financial assistance (FA) and technical assistance (TA) to implement conservation practices that support organic production. The OTI supports USDA’s objective of developing diverse and equitable food systems while encouraging climate-smart agriculture by focusing funds on transitioning producers to organic production.

Location: North Dakota

Application Deadline: February 7, 2025

NRCS North Dakota Announces the Greater Sage Grouse Initiative Funding Opportunity (GSGI)

Location: Designated Sage Grouse Areas in Bowman, Slope, and Golden Valley Counties

Application Deadline: February 7, 2025

Working Lands for Wildlife (WLFW) is a partnership that leverages capabilities and resources, targets assistance where it is most needed, engages State and local partners, and works with agricultural producers, forest land managers, and Tribes. Working Lands for Wildlife promotes voluntary, incentive-based conservation on private and Tribal lands.

FY 25 ND GSGI Description and Practice List (1.38 MB)
FY 25 ND GSGI Practice Eligibility Criteria (346.21 KB)

ND NRCS Announces an EQIP-Joint Chief’s Landscape Restoration Partnership (JCLRP) North Dakota Badlands Restoration Project Phase 2

North Dakota NRCS and North Dakota USFS were awarded a JCLRP for FY 2023 through FY 2025. 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.

Approved Locations:  Private or Public land within North Dakota’s Badlands in western North Dakota located in Billings, Dunn, Golden Valley, McKenzie and Slope Counties. See attachment.

Application Deadline: February 7, 2025

FY 25 JCLRP ND Badlands Project Area Phase 2 (330.57 KB)

ND NRCS Announces the Migratory Bird Resurgence Initiative Program

The Migratory Bird Resurgence Initiative program emerged from a North Dakota concept called the Working Wetlands program. Farmers and conservation leaders worked together to find a new approach to conserve small wetlands in working cropland. The North Dakota project was instrumental in guiding the development of the new NRCS program.

Application Deadline: February 7, 2025

Approved Locations: Counties within the Prairie Pothole Region of North Dakota.

Prairie Pothole Region of North Dakota Eligible map (734.77 KB)
ND Fiscal Year 2025 EQIP Practice List_V2 (186.04 KB)
ND Fiscal Year 2025 EQIP General Guidance_V2.pdf (285.16 KB)
ND FY25 EQIP Scenario Descriptions (2.03 MB)
ND EQIP Cost List FY 2025 (599.69 KB)