Idaho Environmental Quality Incentives Program on the Land Conservation Assistance Network

Idaho Environmental Quality Incentives Program
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last updated: August 2020

General Description

Folderol Farm - tunnel and producer The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) is a voluntary program that provides financial and technical assistance to agricultural producers through contracts up to a maximum term of ten years in length. These contracts provide financial assistance to help plan and implement conservation practices that address natural resource concerns and for opportunities to improve soil, water, plant, animal, air and related resources on agricultural land and non-industrial private forestland. In addition, a purpose of EQIP is to help producers meet Federal, State, Tribal and local environmental regulations.

Accepting Applications

Applications are accepted, from all eligible agricultural producers or non-industrial private forest land owners, on a continuous basis throughout the year. Cutoff dates are established to allow for ranking, prioritization, and selection of applications for funding.

EQIP Initiatives

The table below identifies opportunities available through EQIP in Idaho.

*Program Name*	*Program Description*
General EQIP	Provides financial and technical assistance to agricultural producers through contracts to help plan and implement conservation practices that address natural resource concerns and for opportunities to improve soil, water, plant, animal, air and related resources on agricultural land and non-industrial private forestland.
*National EQIP Initiatives*
On-Farm Energy Initiative	Enables the producer to identify ways to conserve energy on the farm through development of Agricultural Energy Management Plans (AgEMP) also known as an on-farm energy audit; and by providing financial and technical assistance to help the producer implement various conservation practices recommended in these on-farm energy audits.
Organic Initiative	Provides financial assistance to help implement conservation practices for organic producers and those transitioning to organic to address natural resource concerns
Seasonal High Tunnel	Assists producers to extend the growing season for high-value crops in an environmentally safe manner. The practice has the potential to assist producers to address resource concerns by improving plant quality, improving soil quality, and reducing nutrient and pesticide transport.
Sage Grouse Initiative	Focuses on making measurable and significant progress toward treating a specific threat to sage-grouse on private lands through strategic use of conservation programs.
National Water Quality Initiative	Provide technical and financial assistance and planning tools to help farmers and ranchers determine which conservation actions will provide the best results to improve water quality on their land. Funding limited to the Lower Sand Hollow Creek, Dixie Slough, and Outlet Boise River Watersheds.
*State Initiatives*
AFO/CAFO	Addresses resource concerns related to AFO/CAFO.
Forestry	Addresses resource concerns on Non-Industrial Private Forestland.
Soil Health	Promotes practices that improve soil health to reduce wind and water erosion.
Species of Concern	Provides assistance for practices that will directly improve habitat for threatened or endangered species or species of concern that have been identified as high priority species for EQIP eligible lands in Idaho.
Streambank	This funding pool is for applications that will address resource concerns related to stream bank erosion and riparian area degradation.

Participant Responsibilities

Applicants are responsible for completing and filing all application and eligibility paperwork as required. If funded, participants are required to sign a contract and agree to implement the planned conservation practices to NRCS standards and specifications as scheduled.

FY 2015 EQIP Eligibility

Agricultural producers and owners of non-industrial private forestland and Tribes are eligible to apply for EQIP. Eligible land includes cropland, rangeland, pastureland, non-industrial private forestland and other farm or ranch lands.

Socially disadvantaged, beginning and limited resource farmers, Indian tribes and veterans are eligible for an increased payment rate and may receive advance payment of up to 50 percent to purchase materials and services needed to implement conservation practices included in their EQIP contract.

Applicants must:

Control or own eligible land
Comply with adjusted gross income limitation (AGI) provisions
Be in compliance with the highly erodible land and wetland conservation requirements
Develop an NRCS EQIP plan of operations
Additional restrictions and program requirements may apply

Contact Idaho Environmental Quality Incentives Program

REMINDER: This listing is a free service of LandCAN.
Idaho Environmental Quality Incentives Program is not employed by or affiliated with the Land Conservation Assistance Network, and the Network does not certify or guarantee their services. The reader must perform their own due diligence and use their own judgment in the selection of any professional.