# Environmental Quality Incentives Program - Maryland

Apply by:May 17, 2024

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-  Environmental Quality Incentives Program - Maryland 

The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) provides financial and technical assistance to agricultural and forestry producers to address natural resource concerns and deliver environmental benefits.

## On This Page

            - Contact Information
            - How to Get Assistance

### How It Works

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.  Through EQIP, you can voluntarily implement conservation practices, and NRCS co-invests in these practices with you.

### Benefits

Some of these benefits include:
                - Reduction of contamination from agricultural sources, such as animal feeding operations.
                - Efficient utilization of nutrients, reducing input costs and reduction in nonpoint source pollution.
                - Increased soil health to help mitigate against increasing weather volatility and improved drought resiliency.

### Applications

EQIP applications are accepted on a continuous basis, however, NRCS establishes application cutoff dates for evaluation, ranking and approval of eligible applications. EQIP is open to all eligible agricultural producers and submitted applications may be considered or evaluated in multiple funding pool opportunities. Applications accepted after the announced deadlines may be considered for funding if additional application rounds are announced or for potential consideration in 2025.  All applications are competitive and are ranked based on national, state and locally identified resource priorities and the overall benefit to the environment. 

For Fiscal Year 2024, the application cutoff date for EQIP ACT NOW and EQIP Initiatives is May 17, 2024. 

The application cutoff dates for new EQIP classic contracts are:
                - December 15, 2023
                - February 16, 2024
                - April 5, 2024 (if funds remain)

### Eligibility

Agricultural producers and owners 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.

**Applicants must:**
                - Control or own eligible land
                - Comply with adjusted gross income limitation provisions
                - Be in compliance with the highly erodible land and wetland conservation requirements
                - Develop an NRCS EQIP plan of operations

Additional restrictions and program requirements may apply. 

#### **Participant Responsibilities**

Applicants are responsible for completing and filing all application and eligibility paperwork as required. If funded, participants are required to sign a contract and agree to implement the planned conservation practices to NRCS standards and specifications as scheduled.

#### **Assistance For Underserved Groups**

Maryland is committed to equitable program access for Socially Disadvantaged, Beginning and Limited Resource Farmers/Ranchers, Military Veteran Farmers individuals and groups. These participants may also receive higher payment rates in addition to being considered in high priority funding pools. Enhancements under the 2018 Farm Bill include increased payment rates and advance payments of up to 50 percent to purchase materials and services needed to implement conservation practices included in their EQIP contract. 

### National and State Priorities

The following national priorities, consistent with statutory resources concerns that include soil, water, wildlife, air quality, and related natural resource concerns, may be used in EQIP implementation:
                - Reductions of nonpoint source pollution, such as nutrients, sediment, pesticides, or excess salinity in impaired watersheds consistent with total maximum daily loads (TMDL) where available; the reduction of surface and groundwater contamination; and the reduction of contamination from agricultural sources, such as animal feeding operations
                - Conservation of ground and surface water resources
                - Reduction of emissions, such as particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds, and ozone precursors and depleters that contribute to air quality impairment violations of National Ambient Air Quality Standards
                - Reduction in soil erosion and sedimentation from unacceptable levels on agricultural land
                - Promotion of at-risk species habitat conservation including development and improvement of wildlife habitat
                - Energy conservation to help save fuel, improve efficiency of water use, maintain production, and protect soil and water resources by more efficiently using fertilizers and pesticides and
                - Biological carbon storage and sequestration

In addition, Maryland has identified the following priorities:
                - Air Quality Emissions
                - Aquatic Habitat
                - Concentrated Erosion
                - Degraded Plant Condition
                - Field Sediment, Nutrient and Pathogen Loss
                - Inefficient Energy Use
                - Livestock Production Limitation
                - Pest Pressure
                - Soil Quality Limitations
                - Storage and Handling of Pollutants
                - Terrestrial Habitat
                - Wind and Water Erosion

### Decision Making Process for EQIP

Input from Outside Groups, Agencies, and Citizens: The list of eligible practices in Maryland, payment rates and limits, eligible resource concerns, and state scoring criteria are developed based on input and recommendations from the State Technical Committee. The Committee is made up of representatives from various agribusinesses, producer groups, conservation organizations, and federal, state, and tribal government agency representatives.

### Act Now

NRCS has developed a faster process to approve producer applications for its conservation programs. Using its “Act Now” authority, NRCS can now pre-approve applications when they meet or exceed a pre-determined minimum ranking score. Applications are ranked according to local resource concerns, the amount of conservation benefits the work will provide, and the needs of applicants.

Applications for eligible practices that meet or exceed pre-determined minimum ranking thresholds will be considered for priority funding when applying to the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).  No special application is required to be eligible for funding through the Act Now process. 

This means funding decisions can be made without having to wait for all applications to be reviewed and ranked. This can potentially allow farmers to start conservation projects earlier instead of waiting long periods to know if a project will be funded.

Maryland NRCS will utilize Act Now to obligate funding in the following EQIP ranking pools for Fiscal Year 2024. Applications will be ranked and pre-approved for funding through May 17, 2024 or until funds are expended.
                - EQIP Act Now (31-point minimum ranking score)
                - High Tunnel (125-point minimum ranking score)
                - CPA-DIA-CEMA (130-point minimum ranking score)
                - Oyster Restoration (92-point minimum ranking score)
                - WLFW Golden Winged Warbler (60-point minimum ranking score)
                - Organic Initiative (32-point minimum ranking score)
                - Beginning Farmer (32-point minimum ranking score)
                - Socially Disadvantaged (32-point minimum ranking score)
                - NWQI Catoctin Creek (45-point minimum ranking score)
                - NWQI Prettyboy (45-point minimum ranking score)
                - Little Pipe Creek (45-point minimum ranking score)
                - IRA EQIP Act Now (31-point minimum ranking score)
                - IRA On-Farm Energy (80-point minimum ranking score)
                - IRA Beginning Farmer (32-point minimum ranking score)
                - IRA Socially Disadvantaged (32-point minimum ranking score)

Please contact your local USDA Service Center for more information on which practices are eligible in Maryland.

### Maryland EQIP Ranking and Funding

Fiscal Year 2024 Funding Pools - coming soon

Fiscal Year 2024 Ranking Documents - coming soon

Review the amount and availability of financial assistance for selected conservation practices in Maryland.

State Payment Rates

### Maryland EQIP Contacts

Mikel Williams HawkinsFarm Bill SpecialistPhone: 443.482.2923Email: mikel.williams@usda.gov

Heydsha CorderoAssistant State Conservationist for ProgramsPhone: 443.482.2927Email: heydsha.cordero@usda.gov

##   Additional Information

### Working Lands for Wildlife - Maryland

Through Working Lands for Wildlife (WLFW), NRCS works with partners and private landowners to focus voluntary conservation on working landscapes.
Learn More

### National Water Quality Initiative - Maryland

The National Water Quality Initiative works in priority watersheds to help farmers and forest landowners improve water quality and aquatic habitat in Maryland's impaired streams.
Learn More

### EQIP for Wildlife Habitat - Maryland

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