FY06 Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) - Oregon

End Date for EQIP Energy Conservation Initiative Extended  New!

August 24, 2006 – NRCS extended the deadline for completing environmental projects to qualify for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) energy cost assistance until December 29, 2006.  The energy conservation initiative has been effective at offsetting energy cost increases, and accelerating the application of conservation practices. Prior to today's announcement the deadline for completion of the EQIP projects was September 1, 2006. The one-time payment adjustment is available only to program participants who signed EQIP contracts in 2004 or earlier and who have EQIP practices that have been delayed due to increasing energy costs.

General Program Description

Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) is a voluntary conservation program from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), re-authorized in the 2002 Farm Bill. The program supports production agriculture and environmental quality as compatible goals. Through EQIP, farmers may receive financial and technical help with structural and management conservation practices on agricultural land.
NRCS administers EQIP based on locally identified natural resource needs consistent with national EQIP priorities. Local Work Groups (LWG) convened by the Soil and Water Conservation Districts provide advice to NRCS about local priorities within their local area. With this advice, NRCS evaluates applications for funding EQIP contracts consistent with these local and national priorities.
EQIP offers contracts with a minimum term that ends one year after the implementation of the last scheduled practices and a maximum term of ten years. These contracts provide incentive payments and cost-shares to implement selected conservation practices. Persons who are engaged in livestock or agricultural production on eligible land may participate in the EQIP program. EQIP activities are carried out according to a conservation plan developed in conjunction with the producer that identifies the appropriate conservation practice or practices to address the resource concerns. The practices are subject to NRCS technical standards adapted for local conditions.

Limited resource producers and beginning farmers and ranchers may be eligible for higher cost-shares.  Click here to check your eligibility.  On-Line Limited Resource Self-Determination Tool
 

2006 EQIP General Program Description Documents:

• How EQIP in Oregon Works
• 2006 Special Methane Digester Funding Pool
• Application Process
• Program and Land Eligibility

2006 EQIP Conservation Practice Protocols and Ranking Documents

• 2006 Basin and County Funding Pools
• 2006 Oregon EQIP Cost Lists
• Limited Resource/Beginning Farm Cost Share Information

Links to Other Useful Documents for the 2006 EQIP Program

• Oregon Field Office Technical Guide
• EQIP Fact sheets
• Oregon's EQIP Success Stories (coming soon)

Oregon EQIP Fiscal Year 2006 Contacts

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

Oregon EQIP Program Manager:
Bill White
Phone: (503) 414-3085
Email: bill.white@or.usda.gov

Last Modified:  01/23/2007

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