Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)

Introduction

The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) is a voluntary conservation program that helps agricultural producers in a manner that promotes agricultural production and environmental quality as compatible goals. Through EQIP, agricultural producers receive financial and technical assistance to implement structural and management conservation practices that optimize environmental benefits on working agricultural land.

Accepting Applications

EQIP applications are accepted on a continuous basis, however, NRCS establishes application "cut-off" or submission deadline dates for evaluation, ranking and approval of eligible applications. EQIP is open to all eligible agricultural producers and submitted applications may be considered or evaluated in multiple funding pool opportunities. The following document describes how to apply for Farm Bill programs or visit the following website: Get started with NRCS national page

To learn how to get started with NRCS, visit www.nrcs.usda.gov/getstarted

To apply for EQIP, contact your local service center.

Click here for more information on the Working Lands for Wildlife Southwestern Willow Flycatcher initiative.

Fiscal Year 2017 EQIP Deadlines

Applications submitted by the funding cycle deadline will be evaluated to be considered for funding in that funding cycle. Applications received after that date will be accepted and evaluated for future rounds of funding.

Arizona FY17 EQIP Time Table (Application Deadlines)

To apply for EQIP, contact your local service center.

Get Started with NRCS - Do you farm or ranch and want to make improvements to the land that you own or lease? NRCS offers technical and financial assistance to help farmers, ranchers and forest landowners. Learn how here.

Arizona EQIP Funding Pools and Ranking Documents

• 2017 Ranking Tools
   
• 2017 Arizona EQIP Conventional Payment Schedule
   
• 2017 AZ EQIP Working Lands for Wildlife Payment Schedule
   
• 2017 AZ EQIP Air Quality Payment Schedule
   
• 2017 AZ EQIP National Water Quality Initiative Payment Schedule
   
• 2017 AZ EQIP Seasonal High Tunnel Payment Schedule 
   
• 2017 AZ EQIP Joint Chiefs Payment Schedule
   
• 2017 AZ EQIP Energy Payment Schedule
   
• 2017  AZ EQIP Conservation Activity Plans Payment Schedule

Arizona RCPP EQIP Documents

• FY2017 RCPP Arizona EQIP Pre-Obligation Checklist

Arizona Game and Fish Department Arizona Strip Project

• FY2017 RCPP AZGFD Arizona Strip Payment Schedule
• FY2017 RCPP AZGFD Arizona Strip Ranking Tool
• FY2017 RCPP AZGFD Arizona Strip Practice Scenario
• FY2017 RCPP AZGFD Arizona Strip Map

Arizona Game and Fish Department Central Arizona Grasslands Project

• FY2017 RCPP AZGFD Central Arizona Grasslands Payment Schedule
• FY2017 RCPP AZGFD Central Arizona Grasslands Ranking Tool
• FY2017 RCPP AZGFD Central Arizona Grasslands Practice Scenario
• FY2017 RCPP AZGFD Central Arizona Grasslands Map

Arizona Game and Fish Department Restoring Native Grasslands Project

• FY2017 RCPP AZGFD Restoring Native Grasslands Payment Schedule
• FY2017 RCPP AZGFD Restoring Native Grasslands Ranking Tool
• FY2017 RCPP AZGFD Restoring Native Grasslands Practice Scenario
• FY2017 RCPP AZGFD Restoring Native Grasslands Map

The Nature Conservancy Verde River Flow and Habitat Restoration Initiative

• FY2017 RCPP TNC Verde River Flow and Habitat Restoration Payment Schedule
• FY2017 RCPP TNC Verde River Flow and Habitat Restoration Ranking Tool
• FY2017 RCPP TNC Verde River Flow and Habitat Restoration Practice Scenario
• FY2017 RCPP TNC Verde River Flow and Habitat Restoration Map

Arizona Land and Water Trust Fort Huachuca Sentinel Landscape

• FY2017 RCPP AZLWT Fort Huachuca Sentinel Landscape Payment Schedule
• FY2017 RCPP AZLWT Fort Huachuca Sentinel Landscape Ranking Tool
• FY2017 RCPP AZLWT Fort Huachuca Sentinel Landscape Practice Scenario
• FY2017 RCPP AZLWT Fort Huachuca Sentinel Landscape Map

Eligibility

Agricultural producers and owners of non-industrial private forestland and Tribes are eligible to apply for EQIP. Eligible land includes cropland, rangeland, pastureland, non-industrial private forestland and other farm or ranch lands.

Applicants must:  

• Develop an NRCS EQIP Conservation plan and plan of operations
• Control or own eligible land
• Comply with adjusted gross income limitation (AGI)  provisions
• Be in compliance with the highly erodible land and wetland conservation requirements

Additional restrictions and program requirements may apply. 

Note: Starting a practice prior to written contract approval will result in the ineligibility of that practice for EQIP assistance.

Participant Responsibilities 

Applicants are responsible for completing and filing all application and eligibility paperwork as required. If funded, participants are required to sign a contract and agree to implement the planned conservation practices to NRCS standards and specifications as scheduled and follow the eligibility and contractual requirements outlined in the NRCS-CPA-1202 appendix.

Participants that operate as an entity using an EIN are required to obtain a DUNS number and register in the System for Award Management (SAM). Sam is also referred to as CCR. Click here for additional information.

Socially Disadvantaged, Beginning, and Limited Resource Farmers/Ranchers, Military Veteran Farmers

The 2014 Farm Bill continues to address the unique circumstances and concerns of socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers, as well as beginning and limited resource farmers and ranchers and Veteran Farmers. It provides for voluntary participation, offers incentives, and focuses on equity in accessing U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs and services. 

Arizona is committed to reaching out to Historically Underserved individuals and groups. Historically Underserved participants may also receive higher payment rates in addition to being considered in high priority funding pools. See the Small & Limited and Beginning Farmers and Ranchers page for the NRCS definition of the Historically Underserved. 

National Priorities

The following national priorities, consistent with statutory resources concerns that include soil, water, wildlife, air quality, and related natural resource concerns, may be used in EQIP implementation:

• Water Quality Degradation
• Water Conservation
• Air Quality
• Soil Health
• Wildlife Habitat
• Plant and Animal Communities
• Energy Conservation

ARIZONA CONSERVATION PRIORITIES

• Insufficient Water *

  • Inefficient use of irrigation water

  • Inefficient moisture management

• Livestock Production Limitation

  • Inadequate livestock water

  • Inadequate feed and forage

• Water Quality Degradation *

  • Excess nutrients in surface and ground waters

  • Excessive sediment in surface waters

• Degraded Plant Condition *

  • Undesirable plant productivity and health

  • Inadequate structure and composition

  • Excessive plant pest pressure

• Air Quality Impacts *

  • Emissions of Particle Matter (PM) and PM Precursors

  • Objectionable odors

• Soil Quality Degradation

  • Concentration of salts or other chemicals

  • Organic matter depletion

  • Compaction

• Inadequate Habitat for Fish and Wildlife

  • Habitat degradation

• Soil Erosion *

  • Sheet, rill & wind erosion

• Inefficient Energy Use

  • Equipment and facilities

  • Farming/Ranching practices & field operations

* Currently Ranked as Arizona’s Top Resource Concerns 

Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) points of contact

Return to NRCS Farm Bill Homepage