Environmental Quality Incentives Program

 Fiscal Year 2021 EQIP ranking deadline is March 19, 2021 (Except for National Water Quality Initiative and Deer Wintering Yard Initiative)

          
           NEW - Maine NRCS 2021 Program Ranking Criteria
           FY 21 Delivery Narratives and Application & Ranking Tools (AERT) by County

• General EQIP Program Description
• Conservation Activity Plans
• Irrigation Assistance
• On-Farm Energy Initiative
• Organic Agriculture Initiative
• High Tunnel Systems
• National Water Quality Initiative
• Working Lands for Wildlife Initiative
• Pollinators
• Other Program Information

General EQIP Program Description

The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) provides financial and technical assistance to agricultural producers in order 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 or improved or created wildlife habitat.

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 beginning farmers/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.

The Environmental Quality Incentives Program is a voluntary conservation program from the Natural Resources Conservation Service. It supports production agriculture and environmental quality as compatible goals. Through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, agricultural producers may receive financial and technical help with structural and management conservation practices on agricultural land.

The Environmental Quality Incentives Program provides financial assistance in the form of a fixed payment rate for each eligible practice and activity under contract.  The payment rate will be the compensation for the program participant. 

Applications for the EQIP program are accepted on a continuous basis, however, NRCS establishes application “cut-off” dates for evaluation and ranking of eligible applications.  Applicants will be asked to work with NRCS conservation planners to assess resource needs and agree on practices to treat these needs.   
 

Conservation Activity Plans

Maine NRCS has opportunities through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program to help develop Conservation Activity Plans (CAPs).  A CAP is a specialized conservation plan prepared specifically for a conservation management unit.  CAPs are developed by a Technical Service Provider, who is certified by NRCS and placed on an approved list to provide technical assistance to farmers and others for specific conservation programs administered by USDA.  Applications are accepted on a continuous basis for all plans. Applications are accepted on a continuous basis; however, the deadline for EQIP Conservation Activity Plan for 2021 funding consideration is to be determined.

National Conservation Activity Plans Website

2021 Maine Conservation Activity Plan Application Ranking Summary

Irrigation Assistance Available Through EQIP

Under the 2008 Farm Bill, priority will be given to water conservation or irrigation efficiency applications that will reduce water sue or where the producer agrees not to use any associated water savings to bring new land under irrigation production.

Maine NRCS will set aside at least $1,000,000 each year in financial assistance funding for eligible applicants across the state.  These dollars will be used to fund projects that address irrigation efficiency and assist producers to comply with Maine Department of Environmental Protection Chapter 587 In-Stream Flows and Lake and Pond Water Levels regulations. 

On-Farm Energy Initiative

The EQIP On-Farm Energy Initiative enables the producer to identify ways to conserve energy on the farm through an Agricultural Energy Management Plan (AgEMP), also known as an on-farm energy audit; and by providing financial and technical assistance to help the producer implement various measures and practices recommended in an on-farm energy audit.

Organic Agriculture Initiative

Maine has received funds for an organic initiative to encourage more organic agriculture production.  Funding for the initiative is being made available through EQIP.  Successful applicants will receive funding to implement conservation practices that have been identified as needed to improve natural resource conditions.  Not only do these practices offer significant environmental benefits, but they are also important to growers. 

Applications are accepted on a continuous basis; however, the deadline for the Organic Initiative for 2021 funding consideration is to be determined.

Additional conservation practices eligible to be contracted under the Organic Agriculture Initiative in Maine are listed in the Organic Initiative Payment Schedule.  A link to this payment schedule is provided below.  To access the NRCS Standard and Specification information for these practices, please go to Section IV of the Maine NRCS Electronic Field Office Technical Guide (eFOTG).

If producers who sell less than $5,000 a year wish to use EQIP to implement practices related to organic production, they may do so; however, they are required to implement conservation practices for certified organic production that are consistent with an Organic System Plan (OSP).  Payments are not authorized for activities or practice components which are solely production related and are not linked to an identified resource concern. Payments may not be used for any costs related to organic certification.

National Organic Initiative Fact Sheet (.pdf)

National Water Quality Initiative

The National Water Quality Initiative will work in priority watersheds to help farmers, ranchers and forest landowners improve water quality and aquatic habitats in impaired streams.  NRCS will help eligible producers implement conservation and management practices through a systems approach to control and trap nutrient and manure runoff.  Qualified producers will receive assistance for installing conservation practices such as cover crops, filter strips and terraces.

In Maine, two watersheds were selected to participate in this initiative:  The Cross Lake Watershed in northern Aroostook County and the Sheepscot River Watershed in Lincoln County. Within each of these Watersheds, several sub-watersheds were identified as priority areas as listed below and shown in the overview maps.

Applications are accepted on a continuous basis, however the deadline for NWQI 2021 funding considerations is to be determined.

National Water Quality Initiative Overview Maps

• Cross Lake Watershed. Includes Daigle Brook, Dickey Brook and Cross Lake subwatersheds. For more information about applying in this watershed, contact:

       Fort Kent Field Office

       139 Market Street, Suite 106

       Fort Kent, Maine 04743-1425

       (207) 834-3311 x3

• Sheepscot River Watershed. Includes Sheepscot River and Dyer River subwatersheds. For more information about applying in this watershed, contact:

      Augusta Field Office

       (207) 622-7847, x3

   

National Water Quality Initiative Application Evaluation and Ranking Tools (AERT)

Other Information

Maine Water Conservation Application Ranking Summary

Tribal Projects Application Ranking Summary

Socially Disadvantaged Application Ranking Summary

Maine Beginning Farmer Application Ranking Summary

Agricultural Waste

Cropland

High Tunnel

Pasture

Wildlife
 

Maine Electronic Field Office Technical Guide

For more information contact your local USDA Service Center.

Statewide Program Contact:  Susan Arrants, Assistant State Conservationist for Programs, (207) 990-9564 or email susan.arrants@usda.gov

01/07/2021