# Environmental Quality Incentives Program - Montana

Apply by:October 27, 2023

## Breadcrumb

-  Home 
-  Programs & Initiatives 
-  Environmental Quality Incentives Program 
-  Montana 
-  Environmental Quality Incentives Program - Montana 

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
            - Related Resources

Through EQIP, NRCS provides agricultural producers and non-industrial forest managers with financial resources and one-on-one help to plan and implement improvements, or what NRCS calls conservation practices.  Using these practices can lead to cleaner water and air, healthier soil and better wildlife habitat, all while improving agricultural operations. 

LEARN MORE ABOUT EQIP

## EQIP in Montana

In Montana, NRCS uses a “Focused Conservation” strategy to guide its EQIP investments. Learn more about Montana Focused Conservation.

### Targeted Implementation Plans (TIPs)

Targeted Implementation Plans are local-level EQIP initiatives used by NRCS in Montana to guide on-the-ground implementation of locally developed Long Range County Plans. See what's available in your county.

### EQIP Initiatives Offered in Montana

Targeted EQIP financial assistance is available through general EQIP and several other initiatives. These initiatives address priority natural resource concerns on the most vulnerable lands, target conservation assistance in high priority watersheds, or help stimulate the development and adoption of innovation and technology. The following initiatives are currently offered in Montana:
              - Conservation Incentive Contracts
              - Community Agriculture Initiative
              - Joint Chiefs’ Landscape Restoration Partnership Projects                 - Connecting Fuels Treatments in the Salish Mountains and Whitefish Range
                - Elkhorn Cooperative Management Area
                - Fire Adapted Bitterroot Project
                - Gallatin Valley Forest Resiliency and Watershed Health Project
                - Libby Surround Stewardship Project
              - Migratory Bird Resurgence Initiative
              - National Water Quality Initiative Projects                 - Camp and Godfrey Creeks
                - Shields River
              - On-Farm Energy Initiative
              - Organic Initiative
              - Organic Transition Initiative
              - Regional Conservation Partnership Program Projects                 - Big Game Habitat Improvement Project
                - Bitterroot Conservation Connectivity Project
                - Flint Creek Valley Conservation Partnership Project
                - Missouri Headwaters and Lower Gallatin Basin RCPP Project (Gallatin Valley Project)
                - Northern Great Plains Grassland Conservation Project
                - Upper Yellowstone Watershed Conservation RCPP Project
              - Sage Grouse Initiative
              - Targeted Implementation Plans - What's Available in My County?

### When to Apply

Program applications are accepted on a continual basis. However, NRCS establishes application ranking dates for evaluation, ranking and approval of eligible applications. Applications received after the ranking date will be automatically deferred to the next funding period. See Montana Programs and Application Dates.

### Act Now Information for NRCS Montana

Act Now allows NRCS to approve and obligate a ranked application in a designated ranking pool when an eligible application meets or exceeds a state-established minimum ranking score without waiting for all applications to be ranked and pre-approved in that ranking pool.

Applications selected through Act Now will be batched and processed in the order received. Applications eligible for the identified Act Now ranking pools will be accepted on a continuous sign-up basis. To be considered for this funding cycle, applications must be received by March 1, 2024. Applications received after that date may be considered in other relevant ranking pools or rolled over to the next funding cycle. Applications that rank above 85 will be pre-approved as funds are available, except for Targeted Implementation Plans the threshold will be 50.

The FY2024 EQIP Act Now will utilize the following ranking pools in Montana:
              - Socially Disadvantaged Producers (non-tribal)
              - Camp and Godfrey Creeks  and  Shields River  National Water Quality Initiatives
              - On-Farm Energy Initiative
              - Migratory Bird Resurgence Initiative
              - Conservation Planning Activities (CPAs), Design and Implementation Activities (DIAs) and Conservation Evaluation and Monitoring Activities (CEMAs)
              - Disaster Sign-ups
              - Selected Targeted Implementation Plans (TIPs) . Select the Act Now tab on the Montana Focused Conservation map to find eligible TIPs.

## Additional Montana Information

              - Montana Payment Schedule
              - Montana Priority Resource Concerns
              - Montana Programs and Application Dates
              - Montana High Priority Practices - Environmental Quality Incentives Program 
              - Montana Source Water Protection Areas - Environmental Quality Incentives Program

##   Conservation Planning Workbook

The Conservation Planning Workbook is a new tool available to producers to help streamline the planning and programmatic application processes. To learn more, contact your local USDA service center.

Montana Conservation Planning Workbook(2.29 MB)

##   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.

----

## Related Resources

### Guides and Instructions

View All Resources

### Guides and Instructions

                      - Montana Focused Conservation Fact Sheet 
                      - EQIP Fact Sheet 

View All Guides and Instructions

----

##   Related News & Events

Press ReleaseNRCS Montana Sets Application Date of March 17 for Climate-Smart Agriculture FundingFebruary 14, 2023

            -  View More News 
            -  View More Events