Wyoming EQIP
Environmental Quality Incentives Program   
 

Applications are taken on a continual basis.  The next evaluation period:  to be announced. 

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General Program Description

The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) provides technical assistance, cost share and incentive payments to agricultural producers to implement conservation practices on eligible agricultural land. It is a voluntary program that promotes environmental quality in agricultural production. EQIP was reauthorized in the 2002 Farm Bill and is administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

Producers can apply for cost sharing for many types of conservation practices. All sign-ups are conducted at USDA Service Centers in Wyoming. 

How EQIP is being implemented in Wyoming:

The overall philosophy for EQIP in Wyoming is to meet national priorities, be locally driven, streamlined, and provide flexibility for producers to achieve their diverse conservation objectives.

NOTE: The 2002 Farm Bill is scheduled to expire at the end of fiscal year 2007. As such, a new farm bill may be implemented in 2008 which could change the specific program information within these web pages. Therefore, all information is based on past policies (2007 and before) and is subject to change after October 1, 2007.

Wyoming State Conservation Plan/Priorities:

The following priorities are based on recommendations from the Wyoming State Technical Committee. The State Technical Committee is made up of representatives from various producer groups, conservation organizations, agribusinesses, and federal, state, and tribal government agencies.

• Grazing Lands Management 
• Water Quality 
• Irrigation Water Management 
• Wetlands 
• Prevention of the conversion of agricultural lands to non-agricultural use 
• Excessive erosion 
• Streambank/riparian area protection 
• Fish and wildlife habitat 

Wyoming's Top Priority Concerns

The following resource concerns have been identified as a priority across the state of Wyoming. These state level priorities support the national EQIP priorities. Funds are set aside for these priorities and applications are accepted statewide.

1. Water Quality through  Livestock Waste Management

One million dollars of Wyoming's EQIP funds will be focused to help producers who want to make changes in their livestock waste management systems. Due to the difficulty producers face in complying with environmental regulations, Wyoming's goal is to assist 100% of applicants seeking this assistance. These funds will assist producers with AFO/CAFO regulations and supports the national priority of reducing non-point source pollution.

Livestock Waste Management Ranking Worksheet (PDF, 18 KB)

2. Drought Mitigation and Wildfire Recovery

A prescribed grazing plan incentive payment is available to encourage producers to develop and implement sound, long term grazing systems that will sustain the drought cycle. This Grazing Land Initiative was developed through consultation with the State Technical Committee, conservation partners, and NRCS field offices. Under this initiative, EQIP funds are used to develop and implement prescribed grazing systems that will help producers enhance management of range and pasture lands and mitigate the impacts of drought. Additionally, this initiative may include a deferment and recovery incentive for lands affected by the most recent wildfire season. This wildfire recovery prescribed grazing payment will assist the producer with the resources needed to defer the burned area, secure rented acres, install structures, etc. as needed or specific to the operating unit, so that the prescribed grazing plan can be implemented.

These contracts are eligible for a 3-year prescribed grazing incentive and payment is calculated based on the number of acres included in the contract. Wyoming will set aside one million dollars to fund applications for this initiative.

Grazing Land Initiative Fact Sheet (PDF, 37 KB)

Grazing Land Initiative Ranking Worksheet (PDF, 136 KB)

Additionally, many local work groups have identified drought concerns as a priority and have tailored ranking criteria to address this need. In recent years, over 90% of EQIP funds have been allocated to Wyoming producers through local ranking processes who have self selected to address drought. 

3. Forest Health

This initiative will provide a funding source to address the need for conservation on private forestlands in Wyoming.  The intent of this initiative is to fund silviculture practices such as forest stand improvement.  Agroforestry projects including tree establishment and windbreaks are not included in this initiative.

Forest Health Initiative Ranking Worksheet (PDF, 12 KB)

4. Wildlife Habitat

The need for wildlife habitat conservation is a priority across the state of Wyoming. This initiative will address conservation of wetland, riparian, and upland habitat projects. This statewide priority supports the national EQIP objective of conservation of at-risk species habitat. 

Wildlife Initiative Ranking Worksheet (PDF, 10 KB)

Locally Led:

 The local work group process, convened by the conservation district, is used to determine local resource concerns and priorities. The local work group is made up of local agency representatives, Conservation District, and FSA County Committee. Individuals may also provide advice and input to the local work group through the Conservation District. Wyoming EQIP applications are evaluated and selected for funding based on a locally developed procedure to optimize environmental benefits. 

Ranking Criteria: 

The following guidance was provided to local work groups in setting priorities and ranking criteria: 

• Stay within national and state priorities

• Optimize environmental benefits 

• Give higher priority to applications that use cost effective conservation practices, treat multiple resource concerns, and encourage a higher level of conservation. 

Each county office in Wyoming establishes its own criteria, within state guidelines, to evaluate and select applications for funding. These criteria are based on the local priorities and objectives for natural resource conservation. The national and state objectives will be amplified by addressing local priorities. Each local ranking process is approved by the Wyoming NRCS State Conservationist.

Allocation of funds:

The majority of funds will be allocated to the county level to support locally led conservation within state and national priorities. A reserve of funds will be used to address the statewide priority concerns.

1. Livestock Waste - Water Quality through Livestock Waste Management
$800,000 of Wyoming's allocation to address Livestock Waste Management applications.

2. Grazingland Initiative - Drought Mitigation and Wildfire Recovery
$500,000 of the state allocation to address prescribed grazing management.

3. Forestland Initiative - Forestland Health

$160,000 will be reserved to fund applications for projects that improve forestland health.

4. Wildlife Initiative - Wildlife Habitat Conservation

$500,000 will be reserved to fund applications for projects that specifically address wildlife habitat needs.

The remaining funds will be allocated to Wyoming's 23 counties based on the following formula which includes factors that support national and state priorities.

Payment Rates:

Rates will be set at levels that encourage producers to adopt the conservation practice, while optimizing the use of federal funds. In Wyoming, payment rates are established by evaluating the environmental benefits (Conservation Practice Physical Effects) to the public versus the economic payback to the producer to install a conservation practice or system.

In addition to the environmental benefits, practices or systems that address the following considerations may be established at a higher rate:

• Assist producers in compliance with regulatory requirements

• Address more than one resource concerns

• Are included in multi-state or multi-county collaborative efforts

• Degree of benefit for at-risk species habitat

Practices or systems with high environmental benefits to the public, but low economic payback for the producer are established at a higher rate as an incentive for the producer to install the practice. Practices or systems with high environmental benefits, low economic payback, and also include additional considerations such as compliance with environmental regulations (such as livestock waste management practices) would be paid at the highest rate. Conversely, practices or systems with high economic payback to the producer would need less incentive for the producer to choose to implement.

Limited Resource Producers and Beginning Farmers & Ranchers may receive a rate that is 20% higher than the established rate to assist them in applying conservation practices. Find out if you qualify as a Small, Limited Resource, or Beginning Farmer/Rancher.

Wyoming Limited Resource and Beginning Farmer/Rancher Help Sheet (PDF, 41 KB)

Wyoming Payment Rates by Conservation Practice List (XLS, 59 KB)

Eligible Conservation Practices

Locally led conservation will be used to identify practices that will be eligible for cost share depending on the priority resource concerns. The Wyoming electronic Field Office Tech Guide (eFOTG) contains a list of potential practices eligible for cost share.

Producer Eligibility

Any producer engaged in livestock or crop production on eligible land may apply for EQIP. Eligible land includes cropland, rangeland, pasture land, private non-industrial forestland, and other farm or ranch lands as determined by the Secretary of Agriculture.

EQIP applicants must have an Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) or less than $2.5 million over the last two years and must have potential agriculture income of >$1000. Additional eligibility requirements include completing the AD-1026 Conservation Certification, CCC-526 AGI Certification, and CCC-501A Entity Membership (if applying as an entity). Total cost share and incentive payments may be up to $450,000 per individual or entity over the life of the 2002 Farm Bill, regardless of the number of farms or contracts.

Accomplishments

Since 1997, over $70 million of EQIP financial assistance has been distributed across Wyoming to address natural resource concerns. These dollars will allow private landowners to implement prescribed grazing and other land treatments on rangeland; install improved irrigation and water management systems on cropland and hayland; address water quality concerns, including livestock waste management; and improve riparian area health and wildlife habitat. Since the 2002 Farm Bill was established and implemented in Wyoming, nearly all of the EQIP funds have been used for conservation practices that enable producers to better deal with drought.

For More Information or to apply for the EQIP program

Please contact the NRCS at your local USDA Service Center. Application signup is an ongoing process and can be completed through your local USDA Service Center with NRCS. The application form is also available online.

To View Local Ranking Sheets and other local information, click on a County:  

State Contacts:

Jay Mar, Assistant State Conservationist for Programs, 307-233-6757

Cheryl Grapes, Resource Conservationist, Farm Bill Program Specialist, 307-233-6762

National EQIP Home Page 

Last Modified: 08/13/2008