Farm Bill 2002 Conservation Program Provisions

EQIP

Environmental Quality Incentives Program

Key Points:

• Allows for year-round application acceptance
• Provides financial assistance for structural, vegetative, and management practices
• Cost-shares up to 75% of the costs of structural practices

Key Changes:

• Allows use of EQIP funds in the first year of the contract
• Streamlines the application process
• Eliminates animal unit cap on large confined livestock operations
• Increases total payment amounts to $450,000/individual over the life of the Farm Bill
• Reduces contract minimum length
• Eliminates producer "bid down" process
• Increases funding for practices related to livestock production, including grazing land
• Eliminates conservation priority areas
• Assures confidentiality of case file data