FARM PRODUCTION AND CONSERVATION

FSA | NRCS | RMA | Business Center

NRCS’s Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP):

Incorporating Innovative Technology
FARM PRODUCTION AND CONSERVATION FSA | NRCS | RMA | Business Center

Introduction to USDA

Natural Resources Conservation Service

Our Mission: We deliver conservation solutions so agricultural 

producers can protect natural resources and feed a growing world.

Our Vision: A world of clean and abundant water, healthy soils, 

resilient landscapes, and thriving agricultural communities 

through voluntary conservation.

Supporting America’s Working Lands

Through one-on-one, personalized advice, we work with voluntary 

producers and communities to find the best solutions to meet 

their unique conservation and business goals.
FARM PRODUCTION AND CONSERVATION FSA | NRCS | RMA | Business Center

Farmers.gov provides 24/7 access 

to USDA Programs and Services

 What can you find on Farmers.gov

 Locate a local USDA Service Center.

 Secure access to USDA records and maps for your land 

using your private account.

 Explore conservation concerns.

 Request conservation assistance from NRCS.

 Other forms of assistance from the Farm Service Agency.
FARM PRODUCTION AND CONSERVATION FSA | NRCS | RMA | Business Center

Meet NRCS Locally

 All NRCS services and programs are delivered locally through USDA 

Service Centers.

 Find a local USDA service center using this link: 

https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/contact/find-a-service-center
FARM PRODUCTION AND CONSERVATION FSA | NRCS | RMA | Business Center

Conservation Programs Overview

 Primary NRCS Conservation Programs 

 Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)

 Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP)

 Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP)

 Provide incentive payments to implement 

planned Conservation Practices

 Typically, program contracts are with individual 

farms, farmers, or private landowners
FARM PRODUCTION AND CONSERVATION FSA | NRCS | RMA | Business Center

Environmental Quality Incentives 

Program (EQIP)

Three variations:

 EQIP Classic – For eligible ag landowners, operators and forestland 

owners.

 Offers payments for conservation practices through a contract 

that can be up to 10 years.

 Typical contracts are much shorter than 10 years.

 EQIP Conservation Incentives – 5-year contracts for certain 

conservation practices focusing more on land management 

practices.

 Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG Classic and On-Farm Trials) –

Grants to eligible individuals or entities to help facilitate the 

adoption of new but proven conservation technologies. 
FARM PRODUCTION AND CONSERVATION FSA | NRCS | RMA | Business Center

Where Does EQIP Fit?

Improving resource use and production outcomes on:

 Crop, livestock, and non-industrial private forestry operations

 Large and small operations

 Rural and urban agricultural operations

 Aquaculture operations

 And more!
FARM PRODUCTION AND CONSERVATION FSA | NRCS | RMA | Business Center

Basic Program Eligibility

 Applicant Eligibility: 

 Adjusted Gross Income requirements

 Filing a Farm Operating Plan

 Highly Erodible Land/Wetland Conservation requirements

 Farm records

 Land Eligibility

 Land must generally be agriculture land (cropland, non-industrial private forest land, pasture, range, 

farmstead, associated agriculture land).

 If enrolling rented land, applicant must maintain control of the land throughout the program contract period.

 Practice/Resource Concern

 A conservation plan is developed to identify natural resource concerns and one or more practices that can 

address the resource concern. 

 Producers may choose to implement one or more practices from the conservation plan through a contract. 
FARM PRODUCTION AND CONSERVATION FSA | NRCS | RMA | Business Center

Conservation Practices

 EQIP is designed to implement conservation practices

 Each conservation practice has a “Standard” that is reviewed and 

updated periodically.

 New practices are often released through an “Interim Conservation 

Practice” – State or national.

 Many practice standards support multiple application techniques to 

address a wide array of resource issues in various landscape settings 

and to meet the producers’ needs.
FARM PRODUCTION AND CONSERVATION FSA | NRCS | RMA | Business Center

Program Payments

 Payments are based on estimated costs associated with 

labor, materials, and foregone income in each State

 Payments are typically made upon practice completion

 Advance payments may be provided to historically 

underserved producers

 Technical Assistance payments support the use of technical 

service providers
FARM PRODUCTION AND CONSERVATION FSA | NRCS | RMA | Business Center

Program Payments: Materials vs. Equipment

Materials

 Components used to make, develop, or implement a practice

 Examples: sand, gravel, grass seed, soil amendments, plants, pipes, 

concrete, sensors, water measurement devices

 Associated costs are included in the “materials” cost category of the 

payment schedules

Equipment for installation

 Tools, machinery, or similar items needed to implement the practice

 Examples: trucks, tractors, other vehicles, large farm equipment

 Covered costs include the expense of equipment that is owned, rented, 

or hired while implementing a conservation practice. NRCS will not 

cover costs associated with purchasing equipment.
FARM PRODUCTION AND CONSERVATION FSA | NRCS | RMA | Business Center

Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG)

 Competitive grants that drive innovation in agricultural 

resource conservation approaches and technologies

 National and State CIG programs

 Newly authorized in the 2018 Farm Bill: On-Farm Trials to 

support more widespread adoption of innovation

 Annual national CIG funding average: $20 million

 711 CIGs awarded since 2004

 $286.7 million in national CIG funding since 2004
FARM PRODUCTION AND CONSERVATION FSA | NRCS | RMA | Business Center

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offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, 

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conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident. 

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Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA 

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Program Discrimination Complaint and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the 

information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992.

Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:

(1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture

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