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, farmers and ranchers receive financial and technical assistance to implement structural and management conservation practices that optimize environmental benefits on working agricultural land. EQIP is open to all eligible agricultural producers without discrimination or bias.
Applications submitted by November 16, 2018 for Conservation Activity Plans and RCPP-EQIP Tri-State Western Lake Erie Basin (WLEB) will be evaluated to be considered for funding in early fiscal year 2019. All applications for general EQIP, EQIP Initiatives and RCPP-EQIP applications will be accepted, though no official signup deadline will be established until passage of a new Farm Bill.
Applications submitted by December 21, 2018 for all of the funding categories will be evaluated to be considered for funding in early fiscal year 2019. This includes all applications for general EQIP, EQIP Initiatives and RCPP-EQIP applications will be accepted. Applicants must meet eligibility requirements to be considered for funding by February 1, 2019. Applicants that do not meet certain eligibility requirements by this date will be determined ineligible and provided appeal rights but maybe considered in future rounds of funding if eligibility can be established.
Applicants must meet EQIP participant eligibility requirements for:
- Establish Farm Records with FSA
- Adjusted Gross Income requirements
- HELC/WC Compliance
Applicants should file the appropriate forms to establish eligibility as soon as possible after submitting an application. Form NRCS-CPA-1200 Conservation Program Application contains more information about the forms necessary to file to establish eligibility. The necessary forms are available at your local USDA 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.
- New opportunities for wildlife habitat improvement including priorities to benefit pollinator habitat and treat invasive species.
- Advance payment opportunities now exist for veteran agricultural producers
- Advance payments for socially disadvantaged, beginning and limited resource farmers, Indian tribes and veterans were raised from 30 percent to 50 percent
- Payment limitations are set at $450,000 with no ability to waive
EQIP applications are accepted through a continuous sign-up process. NRCS encourages customers to apply at any time and periodically announces cutoff dates when applications are ranked for funding. EQIP is open to all eligible ag producers. The following document describes how to apply for Farm Bill programs.
- NOTICE TO APPLICANTS: Starting a practice prior to written contract approval will result in the ineligibility of that practice for EQIP assistance unless a waiver has been approved (see 440-CPM, Part 512, Subpart E)
Notice: Starting a practice prior to written contract approval will result in the ineligibility of that practice for EQIP assistance unless a waiver has been approved.
Indiana is committed to reaching out to Historically Underserved individuals and groups. Historically Underserved applications receive higher payment rates in addition to being considered in high priority funding pools. Click on the Small & Limited and Beginning Farmers and Ranchers link for the NRCS definition of the Historically Underserved.
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.
Socially disadvantaged, beginning and limited resource farmers, Indian tribes and veterans are eligible for an increased payment rate and may receive advance payment of up to 50 percent to purchase materials and services needed to implement conservation practices included in their EQIP contract.
Applicants must:
- 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.
- Develop an NRCS EQIP plan of operations
Additional restrictions and program requirements may apply.
Fact Sheet - Establishing Eligibility for USDA Programs (PDF; 970 KB)
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.
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. Enhancements include streamlined delivery of technical and financial assistance; improved programs and services; and flexibility in decision making (with most decisions made at the Tribal, State, or local level)
For definitions of socially disadvantaged, beginning farmer, limited resource farmer and military veteran farmers, please visit: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/people/outreach/slbfr
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:
- Reductions of nonpoint source pollution, such as nutrients, sediment, pesticides, or excess salinity in impaired watersheds consistent with total maximum daily loads (TMDL) where available; the reduction of surface and groundwater contamination; and the reduction of contamination from agricultural sources, such as animal feeding operations
- Conservation of ground and surface water resources
- Reduction of emissions, such as particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds, and ozone precursors and depleters that contribute to air quality impairment violations of National Ambient Air Quality Standards
- Reduction in soil erosion and sedimentation from unacceptable levels on agricultural land
- Promotion of at-risk species habitat conservation including development and improvement of wildlife habitat
- Energy conservation to help save fuel, improve efficiency of water use, maintain production, and protect soil and water resources by more efficiently using fertilizers and pesticides and
- Biological carbon storage and sequestration
In addition, Indiana has identified the following priorities:
- Grazing management: fencing, stockwater systems, range and pasture planting
- Nutrient management: manure storage structures, planned nutrient applications, soil testing
- Pest management: crop and pest monitoring activities
- Erosion control: grade control structures, diversions, water and sediment control basins
- Wildlife habitat enhancement: stream buffers, upland wildlife habitat establishment
These and the many other measures included in EQIP can help producers accomplish a variety of operational goals, which may include:
- Improvements to the long-term productivity and sustainability of an agricultural operation;
- Improved condition of crops and forage for livestock;
- Reduced costs for fuel, labor, fertilizers and pesticides;
- Energy efficient systems and field operations; and
- Compliance with regulatory requirements.
EQIP applications are competitively funded based on applicable screening criteria, highest application ranking score and available funds. Applications are considered in specific funding categories that “pool” similar ag operation types and geographic areas. This means that an application for conservation practices on cropland only compete with other cropland conservation applications. Certain conservation practices may only be available through each funding category. Refer to the 2016 EQIP Practice Information page to see if the practice you are interested in is offered through a fund category.
EQIP program and landscape initiatives provide statewide funding opportunities for specific national or state program priorities such as historically underserved applicants and wildlife habitat. An application may be eligible to be considered for funding under more than one funding category and should work with the local District Conservationist to determine which fund category to be considered under. Screening tools are required to be used to determine whether an application can be ranked under certain funding pools as well as for national program and landscape initiatives.
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Funding Category
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Explanation and Criteria
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Screening and Ranking Criteria
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| Conservation Activity Plans (CAP) |
EQIP offers financial assistance for payment of practices and conservation activities involving the development of plans appropriate for the eligible land. A CAP is the conservation practice associated with the development of a plan by a certified technical service provider. CAPs are a tool to help producers make decisions on which conservation measures they want to implement. Examples of CAPs include Forest Management Plans, Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plans (CNMP), Nutrient Management Plans, Integrated Pest Management Plans, Fish and Wildlife Habitat Plans, Organic Transition Conservation Plans, and Agriculture Energy Management Plans, and Drainage Water Management Plans.
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2019 EQIP Conservation Activity Plans Ranking |
General EQIP
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Confined Livestock
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This fund category divides Indiana into four geographic areas (NE, NW, SE, and SW). Contact your local field office to find out which geographic area your county falls under.
This category is for applications containing practices related to Animal Feeding Operations (AFOs) and manure management. A screening tool is used to prioritize applications in this funding category.
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2019 Confined Livestock Screen Criteria
2019 General EQIP Ranking
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| Cropland |
This fund category divides Indiana into four geographic areas (NE, NW, SE, and SW). Contact your local field office to find out which geographic area your county falls under.
Applications in this category must have >50% of the offered land as cropland.
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2019 General EQIP Ranking |
| Forestland |
This fund category divides Indiana into four geographic areas (NE, NW, SE, and SW). Contact your local field office to find out which geographic area your county falls under.
Applications in this category must have >50% of the offered land as forestland.
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2019 General EQIP Ranking |
| Pastureland |
This fund category divides Indiana into four geographic areas (NE, NW, SE, and SW). Contact your local field office to find out which geographic area your county falls under.
Applications in this category must have >50% of the offered land as pastureland.
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2019 General EQIP Ranking |
| Historically Underserved-Beginning Farmer/Rancher |
This fund category is available statewide. This fund category is for applicants meeting the definition of Beginning Farmer/Rancher (BF/R) or Veteran Farmer/Ranchers (VF/R) who also meet the BFR definition. VFR participants receive higher priority for funding under this category. |
2019 HU Screening Tool
2019 General EQIP Ranking
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| Historically Underserved-Socially Disadvantaged Farmer/Rancher |
This fund category is available statewide. This fund category is for applicants meeting the definition of Socially Disadvantaged Farmer/Rancher (SDF/R) or Veteran Farmer/Ranchers (VF/R) who also meet the BFR and SD definition. VFR participants receive higher priority for funding under this category. |
2019 HU Screening Tool
2019 General EQIP Ranking
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| Historically Underserved-Limited Resource Farmer/Rancher |
This fund category is available statewide. This fund category is for applicants meeting the definition of Limited Resource Farmer/Rancher (LRF/R). |
2019 HU Screening Tool
2019 General EQIP Ranking
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| Specialty Crops, Orchards, Vineyards |
This fund category is available statewide. Applications must include practices related to specialty crops, truck crops, orchards, vineyards and other non-commodity crops. High Tunnel Systems are eligible for funding under this category. |
2019 General EQIP Ranking
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National and State Initiatives
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| Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) |
This category is only available for targeted GLRI watersheds identified for the initiative. A screening tool is required to be completed to be ranked in the GLRI Nearshore Health category. There is also a GLRI category to target invasive species. No screening tool is required for the GLRI Invasive Species category as long as the land is within the Great Lakes watershed. |
2019 GLRI Screening Criteria
2019 GLRI Ranking
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| National On-Farm Energy Initiative (NOEFI) |
This fund category is available statewide. A screening tool is required to be completed to be ranked in this category. This initiative only offers assistance for 128 Conservation Activity |
2019 On Farm Energy Ranking |
| National Organic Initiative (NOI) |
This fund category is available statewide. A screening tool is required to be completed to be ranked in this category. This initiative is further divided to rank certified organic operations and transitioning to organic operations separately. Producers exempt from certification are considered under the transitioning category. A self-certification sheet is required to be completed by the participant for this category. |
2019 Organic Self Certification Worksheet
2019 Organic Ranking
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| Monarch Butterfly Habitat Development Project |
This fund category is available statewide. The Monarch Butterfly Habitat Development Project is a multi-state effort focused on increasing monarch habitat on private lands through plantings of milkweed and nectaring forms as well as managing pesticide use in proximity to monarch habitat. A screening tool is used to prioritize applications in this fund category. |
2019 Monarch Butterfly Screening Criteria
2019 Monarch Ranking
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| Wildlife Habitat-General |
This fund category is available statewide. Applications in this category may not include the |
2019 Wildlife Habitat General Ranking |
| Wildlife Habitat-Invasive Species |
This fund category is available statewide. Applications in this category may include any practice identified in the 2016 EQIP Practice Information for the Wildlife initiative. |
2019 Wildlife Invasive Species Ranking |
| Wildlife Habitat-Pollinators |
This fund category is available statewide. Applications in this category must include at least one vegetation establishment practice with a seeding mix favorable to pollinator habitat and may not include conservation practices 314 Brush Management or 315 Herbaceous Weed Control (for invasive species treatment).
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2019 Wildlife Pollinators Ranking |
| Working Lands for Wildlife 2.0 Northern Bobwhite |
This category is available statewide on land which overlaps one of the Indiana DNR C.O.R.R.I.D.O.R.S. priority areas. The goal is to convert tall fescue and other non-native forages to native grasses and forbs and develop prescribed grazing plans to address the habitat needs of bobwhite quail and associated grassland/shrub land species.
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2019 Northern Bobwhite Ranking |
| Working Lands for Wildlife 2.0 Blanding's Turtle |
This category is available statewide on land which overlaps one of the Indiana DNR C.O.R.R.I.D.O.R.S. priority areas. This is specifically for Blanding's Turtle habitat |
2019 Blanding Turtle Ranking |
Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP)
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| Big Pine Watershed Partnership RCPP |
This project will further conservation in Indiana’s Big Pine watershed through the targeted implementation of nutrient and sediment reducing practices to achieve watershed water quality objectives.
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2019 Big Pine RCPP Ranking |
| Grasslands for Gamebirds and Songbirds RCPP |
This project will develop and manage grassland and pollinator habitat needed by at risk bird species, including the Henslow’s Sparrow, Loggerhead Shrike,Northern Bobwhite Quail, and Ring-necked Pheasant. The initiative will develop 2,250 acres of grassland habitat on private lands in five focal regions located strategically throughout Indiana.
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2019 Grassland for Gamebird RCPP Ranking |
| Improving Working Lands for Monarch Butterflies RCPP |
This project will restore, manage and conserve wildlife habitat for monarch butterflies on agricultural and tribal lands using four main strategies: conservation planning and assessment; habitat improvement and best management practices; building an adequate seed supply for milkweed and nectar plants; and, enhancing organizational coordination and capacity.
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2019 Monarch RCPP Ranking |
| Notre Dame Project RCPP |
This project will assist with adoption of cover crops and two-stage ditches in two targeted 12-ditch watersheds. Through water quality monitoring, the project will quantify the soil and water quality/quantity benefits from the implementation of these practices in the watersheds.
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2019 Notre Dame RCPP Ranking |
| Soil Health on Reclaimed Mineland RCPP |
Partners will work with farmers, landowners and mine operators to implement a suite of soil health practices on reclaimed mine lands in order to improve the health of the soil, reduce the amount of sediment laden runoff reaching streams and rivers and improve wildlife habitat. The project will focus on the roughly 175,000 acres of reclaimed mine lands that are cropped in the Indiana counties of Vigo, Clay, Sullivan, Greene, Knox, Daviess, Gibson, Pike, Dubois, Warrick and Spencer.
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2019 Mineland RCPP Ranking |
| Southern Indiana Young Forest Initiative RCPP |
This project will address a lack of early successional habitat and corresponding declines in at-risk wildlife species. The Initiative will focus on 43 counties in southern Indiana that contain the majority of forested land and provide the best opportunities for incorporating early successional forest regeneration into a predominantly hardwood forest landscape characterized by advanced forest succession.
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2019 Young Forest RCPP Ranking |
| Tri-State Western Lake Erie Basin RCPP |
This project promotes coordination between NRCS and its partners to deliver conservation assistance to producers and landowners located within the Western Lake Erie basin. It is a diverse team of partners that use a targeted approach to identify high-priority sub-watersheds for phosphorus reduction and increase farmer access to public and private technical assistance. This initiative is located in Adams, Allen, DeKalb, Noble, Steuben and Wells Counties. Funding for this RCPP project comes from the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). |
2019 WLEB RCPP Screening Criteria
2019 WLEB RCPP Ranking
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2019 EQIP Practice User Guide (DOC; 262 KB)
Indiana Program Payment Schedules
Ask NRCS - A Guide for Organic Producers (PDF; 3.3 MB)
Healthy Forests - EQIP (PDF; 366 KB)
2012 USDA Organic Resource Guide (PDF; 1.8 MB)
National NRCS Organic Farming Information
National USDA Organic Agriculture Information
National Agricultural Marketing Service Organic Information
Fact Sheet - Establishing Eligibility for USDA Programs (PDF; 970 KB)
TSP TA Request Spreadsheet (DOC; 36 KB)
Participant TSP Documentation (DOC; 35 KB)
TSP CAP Request (DOC; 34 KB)
Click here to learn about Indiana's EQIP Initiatives.
To apply for EQIP, contact your local service center.
If you have questions about the information on this page, please contact Adam Heichelbech.
