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Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) in New Jersey

The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) is a voluntary conservation program for persons who are engaged in livestock, forestry or agricultural production, including organic production. EQIP offers financial and technical assistance to implement conservation practices on eligible agricultural land.

Decisions related to how a crop is produced affect the environment, and vice-versa. The EQIP program provides payments for implementing conservation practices that have a positive environmental impact, while protecting long term agricultural production and sustainability.

NRCS professionals work with producers to develop a conservation plan for their operation, design conservation practices, and provide guidance to help implement the plan.

Documents on this page require Adobe Acrobat.
2010 EQIP Fact Sheet (238 kb) - content is included on this page
2010 EQIP - Organic (237 kb) - also available in html format
2010 EQIP - Forestry (137 kb) - also available in html format
2010 EQIP - Conservation Activity Plans (157 kb) also available in html format
2010 Program Details (34 kb) - also available in html format
Applying for Financial Assistance (67 kb)
Application Documents

Who is Eligible?

Applicants must have an interest in an agricultural operation, and be compliant with the conservation provisions of the 2008 farm bill with current crop and producer records on file with USDA’s Farm Service Agency. They must own or control the land, and agree to implement conservation practices according to the contract schedule.

Land is not eligible for EQIP if it is currently enrolled in another USDA Farm Bill conservation program such as the Wetland Reserve Program (WRP) or the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). Land is also ineligible if it is used for mitigation purposes, or if it is publically owned, unless the publically owned land is part on an eligible landowners operation and is not the only land offered for enrollment in EQIP.

What Practices Receive Funding?

NRCS determines the eligible conservation practices used to improve environmental quality both on and off the farm with input from the State Technical Committee. The resource concerns addressed through EQIP include soil quality, soil erosion, water quality, water quantity, air quality, and animal and plant species of concern.

Applications are grouped for competitive ranking into “funding pools” with the highest ranked applications in each pool selected for contract development. The funding pools for 2010 ranking are: Livestock; Irrigated Cropland; Dry Cropland; Woodlands; and Organic Operations.

What is the Contract Period?

EQIP offers contracts with a minimum term that ends one year after the implementation of the last scheduled practice and a maximum term of ten years. Contracts provide pre-determined program payments to the producer for the implementation of the planned practices according to a schedule developed with the producer.

The schedule lists the conservation practice extent (amount), date to be installed, and payment. The practices are subject to NRCS technical standards adapted for local conditions. Any deviation from the contract schedule is considered a contract violation unless approved in advance.

What are the Payment Rates and Terms?

Program payment rates in New Jersey are calculated at between 45 and 75% of the typical cost of implementing the practice, as determined by the resource concern being addressed. If the applicant is a beginning farmer, socially disadvantaged or limited resource producer, the rates are 25% higher, up to a maximum of 90%. Payments are made after conservation practices are implemented to the standards agreed to in advance.

Grazing and animal waste control practices will be planned only for the livestock that have been housed or grazed on land under the operator’s control for at least 12 of the previous 36 months, with an allowance for normal variations in animal numbers. The contract holder may increase the size or extent of a contracted practice at their own expense. Waivers can be requested in writing to the State Conservationist.

Contracts that include irrigation systems must include Irrigation Water Management as an agreed-to practice.

Contracts are subject to payment limitations. No applicant may receive more than $300,000 during any six-year period. Organic farms have a limitation of $80,000 during any six-year period with an annual limit of $20,000.

How Does Signup for EQIP Work?

Applications can be submitted anytime during the year. A signed application filed with the local NRCS office indicates an interest in developing a conservation plan as the first step in the application process.

A contract offer is developed during the annual ranking period. The final offer approved by the applicant is based on the conservation plan, and is ranked on how well the proposed practices meet national, state, and local environmental objectives, as well as their cost-efficiency.

Funding and Priority Projects

Applications for funding will be divided into ranking pools based on land use. The 2010 pools are: Livestock; Irrigated Cropland; Dry Cropland; Woodlands; and Organic Operations.

Contract offers that include practices to address soil quality, soil erosion, water quality, reduced animal waste production and reduced energy consumption are high priority.

Ranking points are awarded under four categories, with National, State and Local priority issues and a practice cost-efficiency calculation each contributing 25% of the total score.

Program Application Materials

Documents require Adobe Acrobat.
Application Form CC1200 (33 kb)
Español CCC1200: SOLICITUD PARA EL PROGRAMA DE CONSERVACIÓN (37 kb)
Conservation Planning Worksheet (29 kb)

Eligibility Documents

Form AD1026 HELWC - Highly Erodible Land Conservation (HELC) and Wetland Conservation (WC) Certification (165 kb)
Form AD1199a NFC - Direct Deposit Sign Up (109 kb)
FormCCC901-Members Form (258 kb)
Form CCC926 - Adjusted Gross Income (259kb)
Form FSA211-POA - Power of Attorney (360 kb)