Environmental Quality Incentives Program

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. To be considered for current available funding, applicants should have their applications into the local field office by November 2, 2018. EQIP is open to all eligible agricultural producers and submitted applications may be considered or evaluated in multiple funding pool opportunities. 

Benefits

Eligible program participants receive financial and technical assistance to implement conservation practices, or activities like conservation planning, that address natural resource concerns on their land. Payments are made to participants after conservation practices and activities identified in an EQIP plan of operations are implemented. Contracts can last up to ten years in duration.

Eligibility

Agricultural producers and owners of non-industrial private forestland 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, 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:  

• Be engaged in agriculture or forestry and have a farm number and tract established with the Farm Service Agency
• Comply with adjusted gross income limitation (AGI)  provisions
• Control or own eligible land
• 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. 

How to Apply / 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. 

Visit your local USDA Service Center to apply or visit www.nrcs.usda.gov/getstarted.

NRCS will help eligible producers develop an EQIP plan of operations, which will become the basis of the EQIP contract.

EQIP applications will be ranked based on a number of factors, including the environmental benefits and cost effectiveness of the proposal.

Decision Making Process for EQIP

Input from Outside Groups, Agencies, and Citizens: The list of eligible practices in North Carolina, payment rates and limits, eligible resource concerns, and state scoring criteria are developed based on input and recommendations from Landowners, Partners, and State Technical Committee (STC). The STC is made up of representatives from various agribusinesses, producer groups, conservation organizations, and federal, state, and tribal government agency representatives.

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

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. Enhancements include increased payment rates and advance payments of up to 50 percent to purchase materials and services needed to implement conservation practices included in their EQIP contract.

North Carolina 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 and State 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:

• 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 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.

North Carolina 2019 EQIP Documents and Procedures

When applying for EQIP , remember that your name, address, and social security number or Employer Identification Number (EIN) must match the information you have on file with the IRS and FSA, and the information provided on the Direct Deposit Form.  If you cannot recall your EIN and address used, call the IRS directly at 1-800-829-4933.  You should "Request confirmation of Employer Identification Number (EIN), IRS Letter 147C, EIN Previously Assigned.  The IRS can fax the letter to you, but you must remain on the line and have a separate open fax line to receive the fax.  The letter can be mailed. The requester will receive the IRS Letter 147C, in 7 to 10 business days.

State Resource Conservation Priorities and Principles

Conservation Practice and Ranking Documents

Some of the following documents require Adobe Acrobat, Microsoft Word, or Microsoft Excel

Conservation Activity Plans

A Conservation Activity Plan or CAP can be developed for producers to identify conservation practices needed to address a specific natural resource need. Typically, these plans are specific to certain kinds of land use such as:

• transitioning to organic operations
• grazing land
• forest land

A CAP can also address a specific resource need, such nutrient management or  an air quality concern. With a CAP plan, producers can then apply for financial assistance to implement the needed conservation practices. 

MORE INFORMATION....

North Carolina Forms

SF-1199A Direct Deposit Sign-up Form  

W-9 Tax Form - Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification (fillable)  (PDF; 75 KB) (Last Modified 8/22/2007) 

Application Form NRCS-CPA-1200 (PDF; 95 KB) 

More Information

2014 General EQIP Fact Sheet (PDF, 1.1MB)

2018 General EQIP Fact Sheet (Coming Soon) 

For more information visit your local
USDA Service Center

or www.nrcs.usda.gov/getstarted.

Sign up for Farm Bill email updates

Program Contact

Greg Walker, Assistant State Conservationist for Programs, 919-873-2104