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Natural 

Resources 

Conservation 

Service

USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation

Service offers voluntary Farm Bill

programs that benefit both agricultural

producers and the environment.

Overview

The Environmental Quality Incentives Program 

(EQIP) provides technical and financial 

assistance to producers to address natural 

resource concerns and deliver environmental 

benefits such as improved water and air 

quality, conserved ground and surface water, 

increased soil health and reduced soil erosion 

and sedimentation, improved or created 

wildlife habitat, and mitigation against drought 

and increasing weather volatility. 

Benefits

Through EQIP, NRCS provides agricultural 

producers with one-on-one help and financial 

assistance to plan and implement 

improvements, or what NRCS calls 

conservation practices. Together, NRCS and 

producers invest in solutions that conserve 

natural resources for the future while 

improving agricultural operations. 

Program at a Glance

NRCS will help you develop a conservation 

plan that meets your goals and vision. This 

plan becomes your roadmap for selecting the 

right conservation practices for your land. 

NRCS offers about 200 unique practices 

designed for working farms, ranches, 

and forests. 

NRCS financial assistance can cover part 

of the costs of implementing conservation 

practices. 

Who is Eligible?

Farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners 

who own or rent agricultural land are eligible. 

EQIP assistance can be used on all types of 

agricultural operations, including:

• Conventional and organic

• Specialty crops and commodity crops

• Forestry and wildlife

• Historically underserved farmers*

• Livestock operations

*Increased and advance payments available

for historically underserved producers

(beginning, limited resource, socially

disadvantaged, and military veterans.)

How to Apply

Apply at your local USDA Service Center, 

which you can find at farmers.gov/servicelocator.

Applications for EQIP financial assistance are 

accepted throughout the year. Specific state 

deadlines are set for ranking and funding. 

If your application is ranked and selected, 

you will enter into a contract with NRCS to 

receive financial assistance for the cost of 

implementing conservation practices. Payment 

rates for conservation practices are reviewed 

and set each fiscal year.

More Information

For more information, visit nrcs.usda.gov/

farmbill or farmers.gov. 

Find your local USDA Service Center at 

farmers.gov/service-locator. 

What’s New in the 

2018 Farm Bill

Adds potential resource 

concerns related to 

beneficial cost-effective 

operation changes.

Raises cap for organic 

producers to $140,000 

over four years.

New enrollment option 

through incentive 

contracts to address 

priority resource 

concerns.

Requires advance 

payment option be 

offered to historically 

underserved producers.

Authorizes direct 

program assistance to 

WMEs such as 

irrigation districts, 

acequias and other 

public or semi-public 

entities for the 

purposes of improving 

water use efficiencies.

July 2019

Environmental Quality 

Incentives Program 

Natural Resources Conservation Service