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FY13 Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) - Oregon

The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) is a voluntary conservation program that provides assistance to landowners and agricultural producers in a manner that promotes agricultural production and environmental quality as compatible goals. Through EQIP, farmers and ranchers receive financial and technical assistance to implement structural and management conservation practices that optimize environmental benefits on working agricultural land. EQIP is re-authorized through the 2008 Farm Bill.

With EQIP, NRCS provides funding and expertise for measures to protect natural resources while ensuring sustainable production on farms, ranches and working forest lands.

More information on this page:

  • EQIP Signup Opportunities in Oregon
  • Regular EQIP
  • Organic Initiative
  • Seasonal High Tunnel Initiative
  • Energy Initiative
  • Water Quality Initiative
  • Agricultural Water Enhancement Program (AWEP)
  • Greenhouse Gas Program
    •
  • Technical and Financial Assistance
  • FY 2013 EQIP Practice Payment List
  • EQIP Eligibility
  • Funding Selection and Priorities
  • For More Information
  • Contacts
  • Archived EQIP Information
    •


    EQIP Signup Opportunities in Oregon

    Those who are interested in EQIP should work with the local NRCS office to identify and plan the conservation measures you want on your land. Those who have previously developed a conservation plan with NRCS will already have the conservation planning step completed. Those who consider applying for EQIP for the first time should schedule a meeting with NRCS to discuss their options before moving forward. Local NRCS conservationists will help you develop a conservation plan, identify conservation measures and pursue funding through one of the EQIP signup options available in Oregon.

    Sign-Up Option Description 2013 Application Cutoff Dates
    Regular EQIP EQIP applications may be submitted at any time with your local USDA Service Center. For more information, see “Technical and Financial Assistance” below. 12/21/12
    02/15/13
    Seasonal High Tunnel Initiative A Program available to agricultural producers, designed to strengthen local and regional food markets and increase the use of sustainable conservation practices that will improve plant and soil quality, reduce nutrient and pesticide transport and reduce energy inputs. 12/21/12
    02/15/13
    04/19/13
    Energy Initiative Assist producers to conserve energy on their farms through an Agriculture Energy Management Plan (AgEMP), also known as an on-farm energy audit and provide assistance to implement various recommended measures identified in an energy audit. 12/21/12
    02/15/13
    Organic Initiative Special EQIP funding is available to organic growers and those transitioning to organic production. 12/21/12
    02/15/13
    04/19/13
    EQIP National Water Quality Initiative Special EQIP funding is available to organic growers and those transitioning to organic production. 04/19/13
    05/17/13
    Agricultural Water Enhancement Program (AWEP) Through AWEP, entities such as federally recognized Indian Tribes, States, units of local government, agricultural or silvicultural associations, or other such groups may propose partnership agreements to work with NRCS to deliver EQIP funding to landowners and growers in a targeted area. 12/21/12
    02/15/13
    Greenhouse Gas Conservation Innovative Grant Program Participating producers provide access to their land for AES to sample soils and inventory farming practices and management. The project seeks to demonstrate the value of improved agricultural practices that increase soil health and provide a roadmap for developing large-scale, high-quality, and low-cost soil carbon transactions. The goal of this CIG project is to provide knowledge and understanding to producers about soil health and soil carbon levels in their fields and opportunities to monetize and market carbon credits. 03/15/13

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    Technical and Financial Assistance

    Technical Assistance:  Those who submit an application and are accepted into EQIP may receive technical assistance to plan conservation measures. Through EQIP, NRCS provides or covers the cost of professional technical services to develop conservation measures. This includes:

    Practice Payments:  EQIP participants may also receive practice payments to offset the costs associated with the installation, cost of materials, and/or income lost with adoption of conservation measures. Practices that may be funded through EQIP are listed in the EQIP Practice Payment List below. These include measures such as:

    • Manure management practices,
    • Efficient irrigation upgrades,
    • Forest management practices (Applicants must have an acceptable forest management plan in place in order to receive EQIP funding for forestry practices. This may be an NRCS Forest Management Activity Plan or other forest management plan; contact the local NRCS for more information.)
    • Erosion control and buffers,
    • Range and pasture planting,
    • Fencing and stockwater,
    • and many other activities.


     2013 EQIP Practice Payment Lists

    The following are lists of practices and associated payment rates for each of the EQIP sign-up options.

    Program Benefits for Historically Underserved Clients: EQIP provides enhanced benefits to historically underserved program participants. Historically underserved refers to groups that have not participated in or that in the past have received limited benefits through USDA programs. Click here for more information about historically underserved clients.

    The document below requires Microsoft Excel

    Regular EQIP 2013 Regular EQIP Practice Payment List (XLS, 96 KB) 2013 Regular EQIP Practice Payment List -Historically Underserved (XLS, 56 KB)
    EQIP Organic Initiative 2013 EQIP National Organic Initiative Practice Payment List (XLS, 55 KB)

    2013 EQIP National Organic Initiative Practice Payment List – Historically Underserved (XLS, 46 KB)
    EQIP High Tunnel Initiative 2013 EQIP National Seasonal High Tunnel Initiative Practice Payment Rates (XLS, 21 KB) 2013 EQIP National Seasonal High Tunnel Initiative Practice Payment Rates - Historically Underserved (XLS, 23 KB)
    EQIP Energy Initiative 2013 EQIP National Energy Initiative Practice Payment List (XLS, 24 KB) 2012 EQIP National Energy Initiative Practice Payment List - Historically Underserved (XLS, 21 KB)
    EQIP Water Quality Initiative Coming Soon Coming Soon

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    EQIP Eligibility

    To participate in any of the EQIP sign-up options, an applicant must be an individual, entity or joint operation that meets EQIP eligibility criteria. For more detailed information, go to:  EQIP Eligibility

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    EQIP Funding Selection and Priorities

    Priorities for EQIP funding are established locally, based on locally identified natural resource needs consistent with state and national EQIP priorities. Local Work Groups convened by local Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs) provide advice to NRCS about natural resource issues and priorities within their counties. EQIP applications are evaluated based on these county priorities and are then prioritized for funding. Applications that best address natural resources as described in the ranking criteria are prioritized for funding.

    For detailed ranking criteria based on location, click on one of the pages below:

    EQIP State and National Priorities

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    For More Information

    The document below requires Adobe Acrobat Reader

    Oregon Environmental Quality Incentives Program Fact Sheet (PDF, 812 KB)

    NRCS National EQIP Website
    Federal Register, 2008 EQIP Interim Final Rule and Correction  (PDF, 54 KB)

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    Contact

    Please contact the District Conservationist in the USDA Service Center nearest the location of your property.

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    Archived EQIP Information

    Last Modified:  05/08/2013

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