EQIP
The Environmental Quality Incentives Program
is NRCS’ flagship conservation program that helps farmers, ranchers and forest landowners integrate conservation into working lands.
What is at stake
We believe hard work should be recognized, respected and rewarded — and nobody works harder than the American farmer.
But today, no matter how hard they work, a series of growing challenges threaten farms and livelihoods across the country.
The challenges
Some of the most pressing problems that farmers must deal with today in order to stay viable for the future are:
- rapidly rising input costs
- falling commodity costs requiring farmers do more with less
- increasingly frequent extreme weather, including droughts and flooding
These issues threaten rural livelihoods today, and jeopardize farmers’ ability to pass on their land and their life’s work to the next generation. They also weaken America’s position as one of the world’s most food secure countries.
The Solution
Traditional working lands conservation programs have been designed to support farmers in overcoming exactly these challenges.
They are among the most successful, popular and oversubscribed of all USDA programs.
- In 2022, 73% of applicants were denied access due to lack of funding.
- In response, Congress allocated $20 billion to make these programs accessible to the thousands of farmers who already applied or wanted to apply.
But now, Congress is considering rolling back these investments in the Farm Bill.
The threat
Today, money is flowing directly to our nation’s heartland, and farmers are putting it to good use on the ground.
- Many of them have already made long-term plans, which would be jeopardized if funding was removed.
- Many new participants would be completely cut off from the opportunities that brought increased productivity, profits and security for other farms in their areas.
Congress should protect our investment in the American farmer in the Farm Bill. It has a direct impact on tens of thousands of businesses and families across the nation — and on the future of American agriculture, food sovereignty and food security.
Now more than ever, we need to stand with our hard-working farmers.
The programs
Funding is currently at risk for the following key conservation programs.
CSP
The Conservation Stewardship Program
helps farmers build on their existing conservation efforts while strengthening their operation.
RCCP
The Regional Conservation Partnership Program
is a partner-driven approach to conservation that funds solutions to natural resource challenges on agricultural land.
ACEP
The Agricultural Conservation Easement Program
helps landowners, land trusts, and other entities protect, restore, and enhance wetlands or protect working farms and ranches through conservation easements.
CTA
Conservation Technical Assistance
helps ensure staff capacity at the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) which is responsible for administering these conservation programs and fostering partnerships between NRCS and millions of private landowners.
The Programs Offer Support to Producers in the Following Areas
Soil Health
Reducing soil erosion, improving water infiltration, and increasing nutrient cycling. Decreasing money spent on inputs like fertilizers and building more resilient and productive soils over time.
Nitrogen Management
Strengthening plant health and productivity, improving water quality, lowering input costs and improving or maintaining soil organic matter.
Livestock Waste
Improving livestock waste management.
Grazing and Pasture
Improving livestock forage while sequestering carbon in perennial biomass and soils.
Agroforestry and Wildlife Habitat
Improving forest and tree health, supporting wildlife and reducing erosion.
Restoration of Disturbed Lands
Reducing erosion, improving water quality and restoring habitats.
Energy Efficiency
Lowering input costs and improving air quality.
Restoration of Wetlands
Reducing soil erosion and improving groundwater and surface water quality as well as wildlife habitat.
Rice Cultivation
Conserving valuable water resources, reducing soil erosion and improving plant productivity and plant health.