Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)

Last Modified: 07/15/2008

Farm and forestry activities in New Hampshire are good for our state, our health, and our economy. When properly planned and managed, they are also good for our natural resources.

The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) is a voluntary cost-sharing program. NRCS offers assistance for planning, designing, and installing conservation practices on eligible agricultural land. Technical assistance is provided by NRCS employees or non-governmental certified Technical Service Providers (TSPs), whichever you choose.

The following information serves as a summary of the EQIP program.  Your local NRCS Service Center has more detailed information on available funding, natural resource priorities, the application process, and eligibility. You can also visit the National EQIP Website for more information.

Articles:

Deerly Beloved
Piece By Piece at the Swain Farm
2006 NH EQIP Success Story

2005 NH EQIP Success Story

Program Overview

Eligibility

Land: Eligible land means land on which agricultural commodities or livestock are produced. This includes: Cropland Rangeland Grassland Pasture land Private, non-industrial forestland Other land determined to pose a serious threat to soil, air, water, or related resources.

 

What projects may qualify for EQIP? Manure storage Composting Erosion control Nutrient management Pasture management Streambank fencing Watering systems Heavy use areas Forest erosion control Grassed Waterways Filter strips Buffers Integrated Pest Management (IPM) And many more! What projects do not qualify? Building or fixing up barns and buildings, and drainage or alteration of wetlands are two examples of activities that are not eligible for cost-sharing.

Who is eligible to apply? 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 funding Cost sharing is available for certain practices at up to 75% of actual cost to the landowner.  More information on practices and practice payment schedule How do I get started? We have a companion web site here on getting conservation assistance for your farm.  Then, contact your local office for information on signing up for EQIP. A conservationist will inventory your resources with you and identify opportunities to protect, maintain, or improve them. Your conservationist can help you decide how to address each problem and develop a plan for your land.  Learn more about conservation planning.

 

Will my application be funded?

Your plan and needed conservation practices  will be ranked against other similar proposals from New Hampshire.  Applicants compete only with other proposals in the same natural resource categories.  Rating of individual plans and ranking will be done periodically on applications received by an announced statewide cut-off date.   Applications that provide greatest natural resource benefit will be approved for funding until the money runs out.  At least 60 percent of the allocated funds to New Hampshire will be used to address resource concerns involving livestock. 

If your application is approved, the EQIP conservationist will turn your application and plan into a contract. We will provide design guidelines for all of the practices in the contract, since Federal government standards must be met for all Federally funded contracts.

The Natural Resource Concerns for New Hampshire

Input from Local Work Groups and the NH State Technical Committee identified four areas of natural resource concern.  The following are the five categories developed for NH with examples of conservation practices that can be cost-shared with EQIP funding.  Each category has its own environmental rating form that addresses the four National EQIP priorities. These national priorities are reduction of non-point source pollutants, air quality improvement, reduction of soil erosion, and promotion of at-risk wildlife species recovery.

Approved practices, cost-sharing rates, and rating information.

Practice Lists, Cost-Share Rates, and Ranking Criteria

2008 New Hampshire EQIP documents available for download. They require Adobe Acrobat.

2008 EQIP Payment Schedule
2008 EQIP Final Practice List
Farmstead Environmental Concerns Ranking Summary (14 KB)
Soil & Water Conservation Ranking Summary (14 KB)
Grazing Lands Environmental Ranking Summary(14 KB)
Forestland Environmental Concerns Ranking Summary (14 KB)

Archived 2007 New Hampshire EQIP documents available for download. They require Adobe Acrobat.

2007 EQIP Application Worksheet (232 KB)
2007 EQIP Final Practice List (36.8 KB)
Farmstead Environmental Concerns Ranking Summary (14 KB)
Soil & Water Conservation Ranking Summary (14 KB)
Grazing Lands Environmental Ranking Summary(14 KB)
Forestland Environmental Concerns Ranking Summary (14 KB)

Archived 2006 New Hampshire EQIP documents available for download.  They require Adobe Acrobat.

EQIP Ranking Criteria (42 KB)
List of Approved Conservation Practices (26 KB)
Guidance on Rating (17 KB)
Rating Form for Farmstead Environmental Concerns (20 KB)
Rating Form for Cropland Environmental Concerns (17 KB)
Rating Form for Water Conservation (16 KB)
Rating Form for Grazing Land Environmental Concerns (19 KB)
Rating Form for Forestland Environmental Concerns (20 KB)

Archived 2005 New Hampshire EQIP documents available for download.  They require Adobe Acrobat.

List of Approved Conservation Practices for 2005 (88 KB)
Guidance on Rating (70 KB)
Rating Form for Farmstead Environmental Concerns (71 KB)
Rating Form for Cropland Environmental Concerns (64 KB)
Rating Form for Water Conservation (63 KB)
Rating Form for Grazing Land Environmental Concerns (70 KB)
Rating Form for Forestland Environmental Concerns (92 KB)
Cost List for Practices and Components (84 KB)

Local Input

Local input through the State Technical Committee and local work groups help define EQIP resource concerns. Local Work Groups can be established on a county or multi-county basis, with meetings convened by the local county Conservation Districts.  Local Work Groups are an example of locally-led conservation.

The Local Work Group may advise NRCS on a number of EQIP issues including the identification of resource concerns and public outreach and information efforts.  The Local Work Group ensures that a conservation needs assessment is developed using community stakeholders input.  The assessment process helps the Local Work Group identify resource concerns, recommend practices, priorities, payment rates, cost share levels, and funding needs.  Find out about your Local Work Group by contacting your county conservation district.    

To find out more about EQIP and other conservation programs, visit your local USDA Service Center and talk with someone from the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Farm Service Agency, or your local Conservation District.  For office locations, click here.

Contact for More Information