ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY INCENTIVES PROGRAM (EQIP)

SIGN-UP SET FOR OCTOBER 1 THROUGH NOVEMBER 2, 2007

The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) is a program from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) which provides financial and technical help with conservation practices on agricultural land. The 2008 EQIP signup begins October 1 and the cutoff for applications is November 2, 2007. The Palouse Local Work Group priorities for 2008 include crop residue management practices such as mulch tillage and direct seed to prevent soil erosion, structural practices for erosion control, grazing land protection and streamside vegetation enhancement, and forestland practices to thin or prune trees and plant adapted trees on understocked land.

EQIP offers contracts which run a minimum of two years to a maximum of ten years, and provide funds to help install planned conservation practices based on identified natural resource concerns. Conservation practices are subject to NRCS technical standards and federal environmental protection provisions. Management is key to successful conservation so plans will include management practices.

Landowners applying for EQIP assistance will need to prove they meet income and land production and control requirements, along with federal conservation rules on any cropland or wetlands present. The 2008 EQIP applications will be ranked according to the environmental benefits resulting from their conservation plan and local priorities, with the highest-ranked applications selected for funding.  Contracts will be written in spring 2008 with implementation to follow awarding of contracts.