General Program Description

The Environmental Quality Incentives Program process in Arkansas was derived from a local led and partners effort. With the help of partners and locally led groups the Natural Resources Conservation Service identified eight funding categories. EQIP will also give additional attention to groundwater decline problems, and increased assistance for forestry landowners.

Applications for EQIP are taken at a local USDA Field Service Center. The 2010 sign up period ended Jan. 15, 2010.  NRCS, with the assistance from the farmer/rancher, will determine individual environmental ranking points.

Once the above process is completed, all ranked applications will be entered into Protracts at the local offices.  The NRCS State Office will then select applications for funding according to procedures described on this site. Anyone selected for funding will need to work closely with NRCS to develop a plan within strict time frames that will be provided upon notice of selection.

National and State Priorities

The following national priorities, consistent with statutory resources concerns that include soil, water, wildlife, air quality, and related natural resource concerns, may be used in EQIP implementation:

• Reductions of nonpoint source pollution, such as nutrients, sediment, pesticides, or excess salinity in impaired watersheds consistent with total maximum daily loads (TMDL) where available; the reduction of surface and groundwater contamination; and the reduction of contamination from agricultural sources, such as animal feeding operations
• Conservation of ground and surface water resources
• Reduction of emissions, such as particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds, and ozone precursors and depleters that contribute to air quality impairment violations of National Ambient Air Quality Standards
• Reduction in soil erosion and sedimentation from unacceptable levels on agricultural land
• Promotion of at-risk species habitat conservation including development and improvement of wildlife habitat
• Energy conservation to help save fuel, improve efficiency of water use, maintain production, and protect soil and water resources by more efficiently using fertilizers and pesticides and
• Biological carbon storage and sequestration

In addition, Arkansas has identified the following priorities:

• Soil Quality/Health
• Water Quantity: insufficient and excess water
• Water Quality: sediment, nutrients
• Air Quality
• Plants: health/structure
• Fish and Wildlife Habitat
• Energy

Local and Statewide Funding

Local categories focus on the primary resource issues in a localized area, as identified by the locally-led conservation workgroup representatives for each county or designated local area.

Statewide categories address water quality issues related to animal manure management and sedimentation, improved management of irrigation water and reduction in ground water use, forestland enhancement, livestock production, reduction of erosion, and improvement of wildlife habitat resource concerns.

Primary Issues Addressed by EQIP

EQIP continues to address those primary resource concerns that were identified by locally led groups.  These are:

• Water Quality, animal waste;
• Water Quality, sediment, including erosion control;
• Water Quantity, irrigation (especially groundwater decline);
• Soil Quality, erosion;
• Plant Health, forests;
• Water Quality, forests;
• Plant Health, grazing land; and
• Wildlife Habitat concerns.

Contact Arkansas Environmental Quality Incentives Program

REMINDER: This listing is a free service of LandCAN.
Arkansas 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.

Listed in:

• USDA - NRCS Programs

Contact Arkansas Environmental Quality Incentives Program

Corey Farmer
Resource Conservationist
700 West Capitol Ave.
Room 3416, Federal Building
Little Rock, Arkansas  72201
Phone: (501) 301-3122
Fax: (501) 301-3194
 Email Arkansas Environmental Quality Incentives Program
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Service Area

Statewide Program in:

• Arkansas

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