Wisconsin Environmental Quality Incentives Program on the Land Conservation Assistance Network

Wisconsin Environmental Quality Incentives Program
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last updated: December 2020

Program Description

The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) is a voluntary conservation program. It supports production agriculture and environmental quality as compatible goals. Through EQIP, farmers may receive financial and technical help with structural and management conservation practices on agricultural land. EQIP offers contracts for practice implementation from 1-10 years.

EQIP in Wisconsin offers financial assistance to help off-set the costs of eligible conservation practices. Incentive payments may also be made to encourage a farmer to adopt land management practices, such as nutrient management, manure management, integrated pest management, or wildlife habitat management. EQIP offers many practices geared to livestock operations of all types.

There are several opportunities for funding:

New Organic Initiative
Another funding opportunity is now available for certified organic producers and those transitioning to organic production to implement resource conservation practices on their agricultural operations. This EQIP Organic Initiative is a special pool of money offered in all 50 states for farmers who are organic or transitioning to organic. Some individual practices under this Organic Initiative have higher payments than regular EQIP, in recognition of the higher cost of organic seeds or fertilizers in an organic system. All states offer Conservation Activity Planning for the Transition to Organic. The Transition plan provides a road map for future conservation cost-share activities to enhance organic agriculture on each farm.

Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plans (CNMP)
The CNMP sign-up is done through local county signups, at all NRCS field offices. Funds are for development of CNMPs for animal feeding operations. Click here for Detailed information on CNMPs

Waste Storage/Alternative Waste Treatment Practices
Applications for the waste storage and alternative waste treatment practices are considered on an area-wide basis.Details about the Waste Storage/Alternative Waste Treatment Practices Sign-up.

Eligibility

In order to be eligible for financial assistance through EQIP, the applicant must be determined to be an eligible producer by USDA. This includes a determination that the applicant is an agricultural producer, does not exceed EQIP payment or Adjusted Gross Income limitations, and is in compliance with Highly Erodible Land and Wetland conservation provisions of program rules. The land on which the proposed EQIP practices will be applied must also meet certain eligibility requirements. These determinations are made by USDA personnel.

EQIP cost-sharing is offered on a county-by-county basis. Each county has its own rules and factors it uses in determining how much cost-sharing is available for approved conservation practices.

Sign-up

To apply for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), you will need to fill out the Conservation Program Contract Form CCC-1200 and the Environmental Quality Incentives Program Contract Appendix To Form CCC-1200.

After submitting your application at your local USDA Service Center, a certified conservation planner will assist you in developing a plan to address the resource concerns on your farm. They will also work with you to complete a scoring worksheet for your application. Submitted applications are ranked, with the highest priority given to those applications in each region with the highest score.

Contact Wisconsin Environmental Quality Incentives Program

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