# Environmental Quality Incentives Program  - Utah

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-  Environmental Quality Incentives Program  - Utah 

The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) is NRCS’ flagship conservation program that helps farmers, ranchers and forest landowners integrate conservation into working lands.

## On This Page

            - Contact Information
            - How to Get Assistance

Through EQIP, NRCS provides agricultural producers and non-industrial forest managers with financial resources and one-on-one help to plan and implement conservation practices that improve the quality of the water, air, soil, and wildlife habitat while optimizing agricultural operations. 

Utah Ranking Criteria and Payment Schedules

### **EQIP in Utah: ACT Now**

NRCS Utah will be using the ACT Now process as outline in the Conservation Programs Manual 530.37 for selected fund pools. NRCS Utah’s ACT NOW allows for immediate approval and obligation of a ranked application in a designated ranking pool when an eligible application meets or exceeds a State-determined minimum ranking score. This means an expedited process for qualifying applications. 

**Utah ACT NOW Pools for FY2024:**
                - **CSP (all pools)**; Threshold ranking score of 20.
                - **CSP-IRA (all pools)**; Threshold ranking score of 20.
                - **EQUIP**:                   - Livestock Water Emery County SFP — Threshold ranking score of 45.
                  - Cache Soil Health SFP — Threshold ranking score of 35.  $75,000 allocated for ACT Now.
                  - Great Salt Lake Water OPP SFP — Threshold ranking score of 70.  $225,000 allocated for ACT Now.
                  - Mendon South SFP — Threshold ranking score of 20.  $675,000 allocated for ACT Now.
                  - Logan City Urban Ag SFP — Threshold ranking score of 70.  $37,500 allocated for ACT Now.
                  - Rich FIIWHI SFP — Threshold ranking score of 60.  $90,000 allocated for ACT Now.
                  - Wayne County Irrigation SFP — Threshold ranking score of 50. $375,000 allocated for ACT Now.

### **Environmental Quality Incentive Program - Conservation Incentive Contract (EQIP-CIC)**

This program combines EQIP Classic practices with the benefits of enhancements with the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) into High Priority Areas (HPA) determined by the State Conservationist in Utah.

**Deadlines for EQIP, EQIP-CIC, EQIP-IRA Initiative fund pools are:**
                - November 3, 2023:  Batch 1 application deadline.
                - March 29, 2024:  Batch 2 application deadline. 
                - June 28, 2024:   Batch 3 application deadline.

### National Priorities 

                - Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Program
                - On-Farm Energy Initiative
                - High Tunnel System
                - National Water Quality Initiative :
                - Organic Initiative
                - Sage Grouse Initiative
                - Southwest Willow Flycatcher

### State Priorities 

                - Livestock Production Limitation 
                - Field Sediment, nutrient, and pathogen loss
                - Source Water Depletion 
                - Soil Quality Limitation 
                - Terrestrial Habitat 
                - Fire Management 
                - Storage and Handling of Pollutants

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### **Urban Agriculture**

Urban farms empower people to solve food access issues in their community by providing locally grown fruits and vegetables. Agricultural producers of non-industrial private forestland and Tribes are eligible to apply for EQIP. Eligible land includes cropland, rangeland, pastureland, non-industrial private forestland and other farm or ranch lands. Additional restrictions and program requirements may apply. Learn more about assistance available to urban agricultural producers.

### **Socially Disadvantaged, Beginning, Limited Resource, and Military Veteran Farmers and Ranchers**

The 2018 Farm Bill continues to address the unique circumstances and concerns of socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers, as well as beginning and limited resource farmers and ranchers and Veteran farmers and ranchers. It provides for voluntary participation, offers incentives, and focuses on equity in accessing U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs and services. Enhancements include higher payment rates and advance payments. Utah is committed to reaching out to these historically underserved individuals and groups. See the Small & Limited and Beginning Farmers and Ranchers page for more information.

Davie Stokes davie.stokes@usda.govProgram Manager (EQIP,  AMA) USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service 340 North 600 East Richfield, UT 84701 (435) 609-9187 

##   Additional Information

### Apply for Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)

The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) provides financial and technical assistance to agricultural producers and non-industrial forest managers.
Learn More

### Historically Underserved Farmers and Ranchers

The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (2018 Farm Bill) includes provisions that address the unique circumstances and concerns of socially disadvantaged, beginning, limited resource, and veteran farmers and ranchers (“historically underserved producers”).
Learn More

### Farm Bill

The 2018 Farm Bill was enacted on December 20, 2018. The Farm Bill continues its strong support for conservation efforts of America’s farmers and ranchers through reauthorization and expanded flexibility of NRCS conservation programs. 
Learn More

## Ready to get started?

Contact your local service center to start your application.

## Find Your Local Service Center

    USDA Service Centers are locations where you can connect with Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service, or Rural Development employees for your business needs. Enter your state and county below to find your local service center and agency offices. If this locator does not work in your browser, please visit offices.usda.gov.  

##   How to Get Assistance

**Do you farm or ranch and want to make improvements to the land that you own or lease?**

Natural Resources Conservation Service offers technical and financial assistance to help farmers, ranchers and forest landowners.

**Print this information

###         Step 1: Make a Plan    

**To get started with NRCS, we recommend you stop by your local NRCS field office. We’ll discuss your vision for your land.**

NRCS provides landowners with free technical assistance, or advice, for their land. Common technical assistance includes: resource assessment, practice design and resource monitoring. Your conservation planner will help you determine if financial assistance is right for you.

###         Step 2: Start an Application    

**We’ll walk you through the application process. To get started on applying for financial assistance, we’ll work with you:**
                        - To fill out an AD 1026, which ensures a conservation plan is in place before lands with highly erodible soils are farmed. It also ensures that identified wetland areas are protected.
                        - To meet other eligibility certifications.

Once complete, we’ll work with you on the application, or CPA 1200.

Applications for most programs are accepted on a continuous basis, but they’re considered for funding in different ranking periods. Be sure to ask your local NRCS district conservationist about the deadline for the ranking period to ensure you turn in your application in time.

###         Step 3: Check your eligibility    

**As part of the application process, we’ll check to see if you are eligible. To do this, you’ll need to bring:**
                        - An official tax ID (Social Security number or an employer ID)
                        - A property deed or lease agreement to show you have control of the property; and
                        - A farm number.

If you don’t have a farm number, you can get one from USDA’s Farm Service Agency. Typically, the local FSA office is located in the same building as the local NRCS office. You only need a farm number if you’re interested in financial assistance.

###         Step 4: Rank your application    

**NRCS will take a look at the applications and rank them** according to local resource concerns, the amount of conservation benefits the work will provide and the needs of applicants. View Application Ranking Dates by State.

###         Step 5: Implement your plan    

**If you’re selected, you can choose whether to sign the contract for the work to be done.**

Once you sign the contract, you’ll be provided standards and specifications for completing the practice or practices, and then you will have a specified amount of time to implement. Once the work is implemented and inspected, you’ll be paid the rate of compensation for the work if it meets NRCS standards and specifications.

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## Related Resources

### Guides and Instructions

### Data and Reports

View All Resources

### Guides and Instructions

                      - EQIP Fact Sheet 
                      - EQIP Advance Payment Option 

View All Guides and Instructions

### Data and Reports

                      - RCA Data Viewer 

View All Data and Reports