Environmental Quality Incentives Program

The 2008 Farm Bill clarifies EQIP purposes to include forest management and energy conservation, as well as practices related to organic production and fuels management. Increased payments are authorized for socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers in addition to beginning and limited resource producers.

Assistance to organic production operations will be based on producers agreeing to develop and carry out organic system plans. Payments for conservation practices related to organic production may not exceed $20,000 per year or $80,000 during any six-year period.

The overall payment limitation is reduced to $300,000 per person or legal entity over a six-year period.

EQIP can provide financial and technical assistance to plan and design such measures as, but not limited to, the following.

• Grazing management:  fencing, stockwater systems, range and pasture planting

• Nutrient management:  manure storage structures, planned nutrient applications, soil testing

• Pest management:  crop and pest monitoring activities

• Erosion control:  grade control structures, diversions, water and sediment control basins

• Wildlife habitat enhancement:  stream buffers, upland wildlife habitat establishment

These and the many other measures included in EQIP can help producers accomplish a variety of operational goals, which may include:

• Improvements to the long-term productivity and sustainability of an agricultural operation;

• Improved condition of crops and forage for livestock;

• Reduced costs for fuel, labor, fertilizers and pesticides;

• Energy efficient systems and field operations; and

• Compliance with regulatory requirements.

(Documents require Acrobat Reader)
        2012 Practice Details (PDF; 490 KB)

        2012 EQIP Conservation Activity Plan Details (PDF; 317KB)

        2012 National On Farm Energy Initiative Practice Guidance (PDF; 325KB)

        2012 National Organic Initiative Practice Guidance (PDF; 609KB)

        2012 National Seasonal High Tunnel Practice Guidance (PDF; 425KB)

(Documents require Microsoft Word or Acrobat Reader)
        Energy Conservation and Soil Quality Improvement System (DOC; 476 KB)
        2008 Farm Bill - EQIP and Organic Agriculture (PDF; 167 KB)
        Healthy Forests - EQIP (PDF; 366 KB)

(Following document requires Microsoft Excel or Microsoft Word)
        TSP TA Request Spreadsheet (XLS; 18 KB)

        Participant TSP Documentation (DOC; 24 KB)

        TSP CAP Request (DOC; 24 KB)

Click on the following links to go directly to the Initiative

        AWEP        On-Farm Energy Initiation        Organic Initiative        Season High Tunnel Initiative

The Agricultural Water Enhancement Program (AWEP) is a voluntary conservation initiative that provides financial and technical assistance to agricultural producers to implement agricultural water enhancement activities on agricultural land to conserve surface and ground water and improve water quality. As part of the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), AWEP operates through program contracts with producers to plan and implement conservation practices in project areas established through partnership agreements. The Secretary of Agriculture has delegated the authority for AWEP to the Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

Under AWEP, the NRCS enters into partnership agreements with eligible entities and organizations that want to promote ground and surface water conservation or improve water quality on agricultural lands. After the Chief has announced approved AWEP project areas, eligible agricultural producers may submit a program application.

Program Description

Each fiscal year, NRCS may make AWEP financial and technical assistance available to eligible        owners and operators of agricultural lands who participate in approved AWEP project areas.

As authorized by Congress, this is not a grant program to eligible partners. This is a program whereby approved, eligible partners will enter into multi-year agreements with NRCS to promote ground and surface water conservation, or improve water quality on eligible agricultural lands.

The intent of AWEP is for the Federal government to leverage investment in natural resources conservation along with services and non-Federal resources of other eligible partners. Individual producers are not eligible to submit a partnership proposal.

Indiana AWEP Payment Rates

(Documents require Acrobat Reader)
        2011 AWEP LaPorte Practice Details (PDF; 47 KB)
        2011 AWEP Southeast Lake Michigan Practice Details (PDF; 161 KB)

Other AWEP Information

        List of 2009 Approved Projects on the national NRCS Web site.
        Click here for more AWEP information on the national NRCS Web site.

COMING SOON!

        2012 On-Farm Energy Initiative Questions

        NEW!  On Farm Energy Initiative RANKING Questions (PDF; 19KB)

The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) was reauthorized in the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (Farm Bill) to provide a voluntary conservation program for farmers and ranchers that promotes agricultural production and environmental quality as compatible national goals. EQIP offers financial and technical help to assist eligible participants install or implement structural and management conservation practices on eligible agricultural land.

In addition, the 2008 Farm Bill included specific provisions for use of EQIP to provide assistance for organic growers to implement conservation practices consistent with organic production per the  National Organic Program (NOP) requirements.

National EQIP Organic Initiative Information

Through the EQIP Organic Initiative, NRCS provides assistance to eligible producers for installation of conservation practices on organic or agricultural operations transitioning to organic production. According to statute, eligible producers include those who agree to develop and carry out an organic system plan (OSP), or develop and implement conservation practices for certified organic production that are consistent with an OSP.

The assistance from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) through the EQIP program helps producers plan and implement conservation practices to achieve increased conservation benefits on their operations. EQIP is primarily used to provide financial and technical assistance to implement conservation practices to address soil, water, air, plant, animal, and energy resources.

A new organic provision targets organic producers and producers transitioning to organic production:

• Assistance is for conservation practices related to organic production

• Assistance is limited to $20,000 per year and $80,000 during a six year period

• Producers are required to develop and carry out an Organic System Plan (OSP) or carry out practices consistent with an OSP

Indiana Organic Payment Rates

(Documents require Acrobat Reader)

EQIP 2011 Organic Payment Schedules and Practice Standards (PDF; 395 KB)

Other Organic Initiative Information

National EQIP Organic Information

USDA Accredited Certifying Agents - Locate a USDA accredited Organic Certifying Agent in your area by following this link to USDA Agricultural Marketing Service site. Then choose the following link path: National Organic Program, Accreditation and Certification, Info for ACA's and Those Seeking Accreditation, and List of Accredited Certifying Agents.

 

2012 EQIP Organic Transitioning Initiative Questions (PDF; 16KB)

2012 EQIP Certified Organic Initiative Questions (PDF; 16KB)

 

NEW!  Organic Initiative Ranking Questions (PDF; 17KB)

2012 EQIP High Tunnel Initiative Questions (PDF; 16KB)

 

NEW!  Seasonal High Tunnel Initiative Ranking Questions (PDF; 17KB)

For program information, please contact your local district conservationist at the nearest USDA Service Center.

If you encounter problems with documents on this page, contact Adam Heichelbech at adam.heichelbech@in.usda.gov or (317) 290-3200, ext. 357.