Higher rankings are given to plans developed to treat priority resource concerns to a sustainable level. EQIP seeks to maximize environmental benefits per dollar spent. Cost sharing may pay up to 75 percent of the costs of certain conservation practices, such as grassed waterways, filter strips, manure management facilities, capping abandoned wells, and other practices important to improving and maintaining the health of natural resources in the area. Incentive payments may be made to encourage a producer to perform land management practices such as nutrient management, manure management, integrated pest management, irrigation water management, and wildlife habitat management. These payments may be provided for up to three years to encourage producers to carry out management practices they may not otherwise use without the program incentive.
Eligibility is limited to persons who are engaged in livestock or agricultural production.
Eligible land includes cropland, rangeland, pasture, forestland, and other farm or ranch lands where the program is delivered. The 1996 Farm Bill prohibits owners of large confined livestock operations from being eligible for cost-share assistance for animal waste storage or treatment facilities. In general, USDA has defined a large confined livestock operation as an operation with more than 1,000 animal units. But, because of differences in operations and environmental circumstances across the country, the national definition of a large confined livestock operation may be amended in each State by the NRCS State Conservationist, after consultation with the State Technical Committee, and approval of the NRCS Chief. Funding for EQIP comes from the Federal Government's Commodity Credit Corporation, which funds several other USDA conservation programs.