From weather to pests, each American farmer faces a unique set of challenges. The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) provides financial and technical assistance to agricultural and forestry producers to address natural resource concerns and deliver environmental benefits such as improved water and air quality, conserved ground and surface water, reduced soil erosion and sedimentation, and improved or created wildlife habitat.

EQIP applications are accepted throughout the year.

The fiscal year 2020 EQIP sign-up deadline is May 29, 2020.

This sign-up includes the funding pools described in the table below on this page.

• EQIP General
• State and National Initiatives
• Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP)

This voluntary conservation programs helps producers make conservation work for them. Together, NRCS and producers invest in solutions that conserve natural resources for the future while also improving agricultural operations. 

Through EQIP, NRCS provides agricultural producers with financial resources and one-on-one help to plan and implement improvements, or what NRCS calls conservation practices. Using these practices can lead to cleaner water and air, healthier soil and better wildlife habitat, all while improving agricultural operations. Through EQIP, you can voluntarily implement conservation practices, and NRCS co-invests in these practices with you.

To get started, NRCS first works one-on-one with you to develop a conservation plan that meets your goals and vision for the land. This becomes a roadmap for which conservation practices best meet your needs. 

Financial assistance covers part of the costs from implementing conservation practices. NRCS offers about 200 practices depending on where your land is located. These practices are geared towards working farms, ranches and forests and provide producers with many options for conservation. See a list of practices. 

Popular Practices

How to Apply

The best way to learn if EQIP is a good fit for you is by contacting your local NRCS office. If you choose to move forward, your local NRCS conservationist will guide you through applying for the program. 

Applications are ranked, and if yours is funded, NRCS will offer you an EQIP contract to receive financial assistance for the cost of implementing practices. Payment rates for conservation practices are reviewed and set each fiscal year. More information on this process is available on our How Do I Apply webpage; new-to-NRCS producers will find specific guidance for establishing farm records (Farm & Tract Number), initiating the Highly Erodible Land and Wetland Compliance evaluation, updating Adjusted Gross Income, etc.

• EQIP Overview: National Policies
• CPA1200 Conservation Program Application form
• EQIP and RCPP Full Appendix
• State Payment Schedule
• Program Ranking Criteria FY2020 - Rhode Island

EQIP General

The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) provides financial and technical assistance to agricultural producers to address natural resource concerns and deliver environmental benefits such as improved water and air quality, conserved ground and surface water, increased soil health and reduced soil erosion and sedimentation, improved or created wildlife habitat, and mitigation against increasing weather volatility.

• EQIP Factsheet
• FY2020 General EQIP Screening Document
• FY2020 EQIP General Ranking Questions

Applications from Historically Underserved Farmers & Ranchers, under EQIP, are considered within specific sub-account fund pools.

• FY2020 Beginning Farmer Screening Document
• FY2020 EQIP Beginning Farmer Ranking Questions
• FY2020 Socially Disadvantaged Farmer Screening Document
• FY2020 EQIP Socially Disadvantaged Farmer Ranking Questions

Applicants may use EQIP to develop written Conservation Activity Plans (CAP) with a certified Technical Service Provider (TSP).

• Conservation Activity Plan Factsheet

Organic Growers or those transitioning to organic may apply to this EQIP sub-account. Applicants must be registered with the RIDEM Division of Agriculture.

• FY2020 Organic Farmer/Transitioning Organic Screening Document
• FY2020 EQIP Organic Farmer/Transitioning Organic Ranking Questions

State and National Initiatives

Seasonal High Tunnel Initiative

The purpose of the Seasonal High Tunnel System for Crops is to assist producers to extend the growing season for high value crops in an environmentally safe manner.

• Seasonal High Tunnel Factsheet
• FY2020 High Tunnel Screening Document
• FY2020 High Tunnel Ranking Questions

Oyster Reef Restoration State Initiative

The Oyster Reef Restoration Initiative provides financial assistance to improve water quality and encourage the development of wildlife habitat by implementing conservation practices that create oyster reefs.

• FY2020 Oyster Reef Restoration Screening Document
• FY2020 Oyster Reef Restoration Ranking Questions
• FY2020 RI Oyster Reef Restoration Ranking Pool Report - Bissel Cove
• FY2020 RI Oyster Reef Restoration Ranking Pool Report - Great Salt Pond
• FY2020 RI Oyster Reef Restoration Ranking Pool Report - Ninigret Pond

Working Lands for Wildlife New England Cottontail Rabbit Initiative

A priority of EQIP is for the promotion of at-risk species habitat conservation. The New England cottontail rabbit funding pool is available to Rhode Island producers who will restore, develop, or enhance wildlife habitat for the New England cottontail rabbit.

• New England Cottontail Rabbit Factsheet
• FY2020 NEC Screening Document
• FY2020 NEC Ranking Questions

On-Farm Energy National Initiative

The On-Farm Energy Initiative enables the producer to identify ways to conserve energy on the farm through two types of Agricultural Energy Management Plans (AgEMP) for headquarters and/or for landscape, also known as an on-farm energy audit (headquarters and/or landscape); and by providing financial and technical assistance to help the producer implement various measures and practices recommended in these on-farm energy audits.

• FY2020 On-Farm Energy Ranking Questions

Source Water Initiative

• Source Water Factsheet
• FY2020 Source Water Screening Document
• FY2020 Source Ranking Questions

Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP)

RCPP - Accelerating the Pace in Southern New England Heritage Forests

• RCPP Accelerating the Pace in SNEHF Factsheet
• FY2020 RCPP Accelerating the Pace in SNEHF Screening Document
• FY2020 RCPP Accelerating the Pace in SNEHF Ranking Questions

RCPP - Enhancing Soil Health

Healthy soils are the cornerstone to sustainable food production and clean waters, and this project intends to convey the importance of healthy soils while assisting RI agricultural producers with the first steps toward improving their farm's soil health.

• RCPP Enhancing Soil Health Factsheet
• FY2020 Enhancing Soil Health Screening Document
• FY2020 Enhancing Soil Health Ranking Questions

RCPP - Farm Conservation Planning

• RCPP Farm Conservation Planning Factsheet
• FY2020 Farm Conservation Planning Screening Document
• FY2020 Farm Conservation Planning Ranking Questions

RCPP - Farm Plan Implementation

• RCPP Farm Plan Implementation Factsheet
• FY2020 Farm Plan Implementation Screening Document
• FY2020 Farm Plan Implementation Ranking Questions