Environmental Quality Incentives Program

NEW!...2007 EQIP Overview Handout

The following document requires Adobe Acrobat

2007 Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) Louisiana Overview Handout (PDF; 98.25 KB)

EQIP General Program Description - Louisiana

2008 overview

The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) was established in the 1996 Farm Bill and reauthorized in the 2002 Farm Bill to provide a voluntary conservation program for farmers and ranchers who face serious threats to soil, water, and related natural resources. EQIP, administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), supports production agriculture and environmental quality as compatible goals. Through EQIP, producers may receive financial and technical assistance to install and implement structural and management conservation practices on agricultural land.

EQIP provides financial assistance based on the 2008 payment schedule for certain conservation practices such as grassed waterways, filters strips, waste management facilities, grade stabilization structures, and other practices important to improving and maintaining the health of natural resources in the area. Incentive payments may be made to encourage a producer to perform land management practices such as nutrient management, waste utilization, prescribed grazing, and irrigation water management. Total financial assistance payments are limited to $450,000 per an individual for the life of the Farm Bill (2002 – 2007).

How EQIP Works in Louisiana

Eligibility

Any farmer engaged in livestock or crop production on eligible land may apply for EQIP. Eligible land includes cropland; rangeland; pasture; private non-industrial forestland; and other farm or ranch lands, as determined by the Secretary of Agriculture.  In order to be eligible to signup for EQIP the applicant must be determined to be an eligible producer by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). The land offered for EQIP must also be determined eligible by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Eligible land for the 2008 EQIP signup is land that has a resource concern that can be addressed through application of the one or more of the 2008 EQIP Eligible Conservation Practices:

The following document requires Adobe Acrobat.

 2008 EQIP Eligible Conservation Practices (PDF; 24 KB)

The participant must complete and sign all necessary forms including the NRCS-CPA-1200 and Appendix.  Financial assistance eligibility is contingent on the producer not starting the practice prior to having an approved EQIP contract signed by the appropriate NRCS Contracting Officer.

Local Work Groups

The purpose of the Local work group is to provide recommendations to the NRCS State Conservationist on the conservation programs for which NRCS has administrative responsibilities and to function in an advisory capacity to provide recommendations to NRCS at the local level for implementing conservation program provisions.

Application

The current EQIP rules require a continuous sign-up. FY-2008 continuous sign-up began October 1, 2007.  FY-2007 applications that were not funded may be deferred to FY-2008.   Applicants may apply by completing the NRCS-CPA-1200 Application Form and Appendix and submit in person, by phone, e-mail, internet "eCommerce”, fax, or letter to their local USDA Service Centers. Applications Forms are available at your local USDA Service Centers in Louisiana or at the National EQIP website. Although Applications can be taken at any time during the year, NRCS will establish application evaluation periods and cut off dates by which funds must be obligated.

Ranking

Louisiana will use the ProTracts Ranking Tool for ranking all EQIP applications. This ranking tool has been developed in order to achieve a consistent nation-wide ranking process that is tailored to prioritize the targeted resource concerns in Louisiana, as identified by the Local Work Groups. These Local Work Groups, convened by the 43 Louisiana Soil and Water Conservation Districts, consist of a broad base of partner agencies, land users, agriculture interest groups, and other organizations and businesses that have an interest in natural resource management. The ranking tool will allow field offices to rank applications based on practices in which the applicant is requesting financial assistance, while evaluating practice benefits / cost effectiveness, and addressing state and national issues. A sum of the point values will be used to prioritize EQIP applications for funding consideration.

The following document requires Adobe Acrobat.

 2008 Louisiana EQIP Ranking Criteria Summary (PDF; 34 KB)

Funding

EQIP funding allocations and application selection will be made on a parish-by-parish basis.  Approximately 60% of EQIP Natural Resource Concern Statewide Funds will be directed to livestock concerns and approximately 40% will be directed to forestland and/or cropland concerns.

Contract Development

Form NRCS-CPA-1202 and Appendix will serve as the contract document for EQIP.   Participants must sign the NRCS-CPA-1202  and acknowledge receipt of the NRCS-CPA-1202 Appendix before the contract is approved.  Applicants who rank high enough to be selected for EQIP contracting must have a conservation plan developed.  The conservation plan will outline the practices that will be included on the contract and the schedule for implementing the practices.

EQIP participant's receiving cost-share for Animal Waste Management Systems are required to develop and implement a Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan.

EQIP contracts will have a minimum length of one year after the last practice is certified complete and a maximum length not to exceed 10 years.  All practices completed must have 1 year of maintenance within the life of the contract.  No practices will be scheduled in the tenth year of an EQIP contract. Participants agree to maintain conservation practices implemented with EQIP financial assistance for the practice life span, which may exceed the length of the contract. Conservation Practices must meet or exceed Louisiana NRCS standards and specifications.

A financially assisted practice must be started within 12 months of contract approval by the NRCS Contracting Officer. Once begun, the producer is expected to make continuous progress towards implementation. Failure to commence a practice within 12 months of contract approval may result in contract termination unless circumstances beyond the participant’s control prevented the start of the practice. Practices started or completed prior to contract approval are not eligible for EQIP financial assistance.

For additional information and assistance, contact a NRCS representative at your local USDA Service Centers.
 

2007 Common EQIP Practices

EQIP Success Stories

Other Useful Links and Resources

• EQIP Fact Sheet and National EQIP website
• Louisiana Electronic Field Office Technical Guide
• Technical Service Providers

• The following documents require Adobe Acrobat.
  
   New! Ground and Surface Water Conservation (GSWC) Factsheet (PDF; 64 KB)
  
  2008 Louisiana Statewide Average Cost List (PDF; 43 KB)

Last Modified: 08/12/2008