2013 EQIP Seasonal High Tunnel Initiative
Eight-species cover crop cocktail mix in a high tunnel. Lake County, Montana.
The Seasonal High Tunnel Initiative is a voluntary program that provides financial and technical assistance to agricultural producers. The goal of the initiative is to assist producers to extend the growing season for high value crops in an environmentally safe manner.
How The Seasonal High Tunnel Initiative Works
The Initiative may assist producers in addressing a resource concern by:
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improving plant quality
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improving soil quality
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reducing nutrient and pesticide transportation
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improving air quality through reduced transportation inputs
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reducing energy use by providing consumers with a local source of fresh produce
Who Can Apply
Eligible applicants include individuals, legal entities, Indian Tribes, or joint operations engaged in agricultural production. Organic producers who grow agricultural commodities on eligible land and have natural resource concerns which may be addressed by a seasonal high tunnel may participate in the Seasonal High Tunnel Initiative.
Eligible producers interested in entering into a financial assistance agreement with NRCS for EQIP assistance may file an application at any time. Applicants must be:
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an agricultural producer and have control of eligible land for the term of the proposed contract period; eligible land includes cropland
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in compliance with the provisions for protecting the interests of tenants and sharecroppers, including the provisions for sharing EQIP payments on a fair and equitable basis
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in compliance with the highly erodible land and wetland conservation compliance provisions of the 2008 Farm Bill
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within appropriate payment limitation requirements, as specified in the 2008 Farm Bill
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in compliance with adjusted gross income requirements of the 2008 Farm Bill
Core Practice
Seasonal High Tunnel System for Crops
Supporting Practices
The following list of practices is also available to producers (as applicable to their state) to support the Seasonal High Tunnel Practice to help ensure that the resource concerns are addressed while implementing and managing the Seasonal High Tunnel:
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Critical Area Planting
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Diversion
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Grassed Waterway
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Irrigation Reservoir
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Irrigation System, Microirrigation
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Subsurface Drain
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Surface Drainage, Field Ditch
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Underground Outlet
How To Apply
NRCS accepts and processes EQIP applications on a continuous basis. However, each state may establish deadlines for one or more application periods in which to consider eligible applications for funding. Applications submitted after these dates will be evaluated and considered for funding during later funding opportunities. Producers must submit a complete program application and other documentation to support eligibility to be considered for financial assistance through EQIP.
Information about how to apply for assistance through EQIP, as well as, deadlines specific to the available application periods for each state, is available online. Click on the State where the property that you are interested in enrolling in EQIP is located. This will take you to that State's Programs home page, which will link to that State's EQIP page.
