EQIP Funds Available

Arizona farmers & ranchers can get help to pay for installing or implementing conservation management practices on their land.

USDA’s Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) is taking applications until Nov. 1st, for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). The program provides money & technical assistance to help agricultural producers reduce soil erosion, improve water use, protect grazing land, & protect natural resources.

“EQIP is a voluntary conservation program that supports production agriculture & environmental quality as compatible goals,” said David McKay, State Conservationist.

NRCS employees’ will conduct a resource assessment of each applicant’s land use to determine resource problems. Conservation practices that treat multiple resource concerns & provide the most environmental benefits will place applicants in a higher priority. The assessment results in a score that determines if the project can be funded & how much will be awarded to the participant. EQIP offers contracts with a minimum term that ends 1 year after the implementation of the last scheduled practices & a maximum term of 10 years.

Up to 50% cost share is available, with a payment limitation of $450,000 per individual or entity for fiscal year 2006 contracts. Eligible tribes & individual tribal members can get 75% cost share & Limited Resource Producers & Beginning Farmers can obtain up to 90% cost share. Farmers or ranchers with direct or indirect gross farm sales of not more than $106,400 are considered limited resource producers & a beginning farmer must have been in operation for less than 10 consecutive years. Producers can visit their local USDA field offices for more information.

EQIP Sign-up information is now available online: nrcs.usda.gov/programs/eqip. Click on the state where your farm or ranching interest is located. This will take you to the application information for that state, the official ranking criteria used to evaluate your application, & a link to the form CCC-1200, Application for Participation &/or Contract.