Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)
The Environmental Quality Incentives Program provides 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 practices on eligible agricultural land. EQIP assistance contract terms last a minimum of one year after the implementation of the last scheduled practices, and a maximum of 10 years.
EQIP generally provides a cost share of up to 75% of the practices that would secure and environmentally-conscious future for individual land owners. The exception would be farmers and ranchers with limited resource production on their land who may qualify for up to a 90% cost share.
The McKinley SWCD is currently dealing with EQIP applications for the 2004 fiscal year. The deadline for 2004 EQIP applications is Feburary 13, 2004. After this date, the SWCD will begin to accept applications for the 2005 fiscal year on a rolling basis. Applications can be brought to the Gallup USDA Service Center. To see a list qualifications and specifics about EQIP, click on the link below.