Download EQIP Guide & FAQs PDF
Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)
A Guide to Help Fruit Growers Successfully Apply to the Environmental Quality Incentives Program to Support their Use of Conservation Practices
Introduction
Fruit growers in Washington can now obtain assistance to support the additional cost of implementing environmentally sound farming practices such as integrated pest management, when these practices are new for a farm or block.
The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) is a voluntary and competitive program administered by USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) that provides technical and financial assistance to eligible growers for the use of a wide range of practices on their farms. Getting started with government programs can be difficult for growers. This guide presents the basic steps for applying for EQIP financial assistance.
The EQIP Application Steps
The new Farm Bill yet to be passed by Congress may result in some changes to the following information, but the basic information should remain the same.
1) Learn more about EQIP and prepare to apply
Visit the EQIP Updates page for periodic updates.
Contact Amy Hendershot with USDA-NRCS: tel 509.664.9303 or fax 509.662.1628 email amy.hendershot@wa.usda.gov
In preparation for applying for an EQIP contract you should have an idea about what you want to do on your land in terms of practices, installations, or wildlife habitat plantings. In NRCS terminology, you will be addressing natural resource concerns on your farm that are intended to improve economic viability of the farm as well. Remember that NRCS wants to fund practices that you are not already doing.
2) Begin the application process
Start by visiting the USDA Farm Services Agency (FSA) office and providing or updating your farm information. This will determine eligibility for EQIP applications.
Next, visit the NRCS office and sign the EQIP application cover sheet. An NRCS planner will most likely contact you for a full application meeting and farm visit.
At your NRCS meeting, plan on spending 1 ½ - 2 hours with the conservationist. The conservationist will discuss your plans for your orchard and will help you fill out the paperwork. While there may seem to be a lot of paper work involved, most of it is for the NRCS staff to fill out and they are skilled in simplifying the process for growers. Of course, the information in your application will be kept confidential.
Here are examples of the types of practices you might consider for your farm:
- Integrated pest management – includes use of monitoring, mating disruption, use of reduced risk pesticides and low volume tower sprayers.
- Nutrient management – use of soil samples to monitor nutrient levels (such as excessive nitrogen) and assist in determining fertilizer needs. Application of compost and manure.
- Irrigation water management – monitoring soil moisture to improve irrigation scheduling.
- Wildlife plantings such as hedgerows (patches of trees or shrubs for beneficial species), riparian buffers, and field borders.
- Windbreaks to reduce potential for pesticide drift into streams.
- Abandoned orchard removal – to remove reservoirs of pest insects immigrating into your orchard. This practice is restricted to land that will not be planted back to a crop for five years.
There may be other practices you and the conservationist will identify. Each practice can be included in a contract because it protects a natural resource. For example, IPM would benefit water and air quality. In general, growers who are willing to apply multiple practices that improve more than one resource are more likely to have their applications approved.
Organic Orchard EQIP Applications for FY2010 are due by Feb. 1, 2010 
Standard Orchard EQIP Applications for FY2011 are due by July 15, 2010
3) After you have applied
Applications are ranked with other applications in your area based on a system of points. The number of points assigned to each of the practices you want to use on your farm is related to the amount of environmental benefit resulting from these practices. Again, applications that include multiple practices have a higher priority for funding because they offer greater conservation benefits. All applications within a given area are ranked using the same criteria to assure that everyone is treated fairly.
The NRCS District Conservationist will let you know whether or not your application is funded. If your application has been accepted, you will complete and sign a contract specifying the payments and the work you will do on your farm. Contracts are usually signed between January 1 and May 1. Applications submitted for FY2010 and recieved before Aug. 14, 2009 are under review.
For the most up-to-date information and to download the application visit NRCS-EQIP at:
http://www.wa.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/eqip/FY09/index.html
For specific information on ranking criteria for applications, eligible practices and payment limits ("hold downs") go to:
(click on your county) http://www.wa.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/eqip/FY09/eqip_packets.html
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