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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.
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)
Related Documents
Practice Catalog
(118 kb)
updated 10/29/09 -description of practices eligible for farm bill financial assistance in New
Jersey and payment rates for 2009.
2010 Conservation Activity Plan
Catalog (27 kb) These guidelines are developed from the Conservation
Programs Manual (CPM) 440 part 515 to provide New Jersey specific information
for implementation of the 2010 EQIP Conservation Activity Plans (CAP).
Ranking Criteria - coming soon
History of Environmental Quality Incentives
Program (EQIP) in New Jersey
Contact:
Janice Reid, Assistant State Conservationist for Programs (732) 537-6042
< Back to Programs
Last Modified:
November 13, 2009
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