FY09 Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) - Oregon

About the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)

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.

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FY 2009 Environmental Quality Incentives Program Fact Sheet (PDF, 96 KB)

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 and develop a conservation plan 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.

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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:

• On-site assessments
• Site-specific practice and management plans (a special EQIP signup for development of Forest Management Activity Plans and Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plans (CNMPs) is offered in 2009)
• Engineering designs

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 items.

 2009 EQIP Practice Payment Lists

The following is a list of practices and associated payment rates, please view the pages below.

The document below requires Microsoft Excel

2009 EQIP Practice Payment Rates (XLS, 70 KB)

Program Benefits for Historically Underserved Clients 

The 2008 Farm Bill authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to provide EQIP practice payments totaling up to 90 percent of the costs associated with planning and implementing conservation measures for 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.

The document below requires Microsoft Excel

2009 EQIP Practice Payment Rates for Historically Underserved Clients (XLS, 70 KB)

Click here for more information about historically underserved clients.

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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
Central Coast Upper Willamette Basin
Deschutes Basin
High Desert Basin
John Day / Umatilla Basin
Lower Willamette Basin
North Coast Basin
Snake Basin
Southwest Oregon Basin

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For More Information

NRCS National EQIP Website
Federal Register, Interim Final Rule for EQIP

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Contact

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

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Archived EQIP Information

• 2008
• 2007
• 2006
• 2005
• 2004

Last Modified:  06/08/2009

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