Using EQIP to implement IPM and related practices
on your farm: A guide for growers and their consultants

What is EQIP?
EQIP, the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, assists growers in keeping their farm’s water, soil and air healthy by providing financial incentives towards implementing farming practices like IPM (integrated pest management). It is a voluntary program administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

Why apply? Farmers understand the value of farming in a manner that conserves natural resources and protects the environment. It can be challenging to meet your farm’s environmental needs and also maintain farm production in a highly competitive agricultural climate. Often, the initial costs of using a new technique cannot be recovered through the sale of crops, and it may take several years to incorporate new techniques in a farm management plan. To better support growers’ efforts, the 2002 Farm Bill increased the funding available in EQIP to assist growers with the expense of initiating conservation practices. If you have little experience with NRCS or other government conservation programs, taking advantage of these opportunities may seem challenging. This guide is intended to be a grower-friendly aid that helps you successfully apply to EQIP. Evaluate your interest in the program. EQIP is designed to assist growers in being proactive in protecting the natural resources that are the basis for good farm productivity and environmental quality. Soil, air, and water concerns such as erosion or agrochemical risks to air and water can be addressed in the program. Each state varies in what practices are acceptable for funding, but generally EQIP can sponsor many types of IPM tactics (see examples) under the NRCS pest management standard. There are additional commonly approved practices that combine easily with IPM, allowing growers to comprehensively address their on-farm resource concerns.

Potential practices for a conservation plan Pest management Irrigation water management Nutrient management Ag chemical containment facility Field border Critical area planting Windbreak establishment or renovation Riparian buffer/Filter strips Conservation cover Stripcropping Residue management Crosswind strips Cover crops

Here are resources to help you evaluate whether you’d like to apply:

• Read success stories about growers participating in EQIP:
  • Michigan - Fruit, vegetable and nursery plant growers tell of success.
  • Wisconsin - Journal of Soil and Water Conservation article about success by orchardists.
• Examples of IPM tactics that have recently qualified for EQIP in Midwestern states:
  • Using weather-based forecasting tools.
  • Adding electronic canopy sensing technology to sprayers and use of shielded sprayers to reduce drift potential.
  • Converting from chemical weed control to flamer/steamer weed control.
  • Converting or eliminating pesticides with high to moderate potential for ground or surface water contamination to pesticides with low risk potential.
  • Removing wild host plants of pests adjacent to a fruit production area.
  • Utilizing disease inoculum reduction strategies.
  • Providing nesting structures for insectivorous birds, bats and other predators.
  • Implementing pesticide resistance management.
  • Using organic mulches to suppress weeds and reduce herbicide use, and using rotary hoeing beneath bushes to reduce weeds and reduce herbicide use.
• State-specific information on incentive rates and resource priorities.

Specific EQIP resource priorities, availability of practices and the incentive rates attached to the practices can vary by the local administrative unit. In some states, these policies are set at the state level while in others; they are determined at the local level and will vary within a state.

Contact NRCS to inform them of your interest.
Contact your local NRCS (use this locator) to schedule a meeting with staff to start your application. The information you share will be kept confidential. The NRCS district conservationist or a conservation planner will help you fill out a brief pre-application with basic questions to see if you are eligible for the program. Be sure to submit the pre-application form directly to the district conservationist as soon as possible, because the date of submission may be used as part of the selection process if more funds are requested than are available.

Work with NRCS to identify resource concerns on your farm and practices to address them.
The district conservationist or an assisting conservation planner will come to your farm to help you develop a conservation plan. Together, you will assess your farm for resource concerns and identify practices that are appropriate to reduce the concern and maintain good production.
           
To help in developing your application and plan with NRCS, you will need copies of:

• Pest and nutrient management records from the past three years.
• A farm layout or aerial photo of the farm.
• A list of areas where you have conservation concerns.
• A list of crops and rotation schedules, if applicable.

Clarify with your planner what the incentive rates would be for the practices you are considering. As a general rule, growers who are able to apply for multiple practices that improve more than one resource have a higher priority for funding. Even if you previously participated in EQIP, you are eligible as long as your farm has remaining conservation concerns.

Submit your application to NRCS.
Once you have identified your resource concerns and practices to address them, you and the district conservationist will complete your application. If you are a Limited Resource Producer or Beginning Farmer, you are eligible for higher payments – check with the NRCS staff to determine if you qualify.
 
Once you have submitted your application to NRCS, it will be ranked with others in the state based on the number of points it has received. The NRCS district conservationist will contact you about whether or not your application is funded. If your application has been accepted, you will complete and sign a contract stating the payments and your obligations.