Agricultural and Food Policy
 Agri Outlook Radio
Number 214
USDA Seeks Public Comment on Interim Final Rule That Amends the Environmental Quality Incentive Program (3:47 minutes)
Audio/Video Script:
I’m Robert Coats Extension Economist University of Arkansas Division of
Agriculture.
USDA is seeking public comment on their interim final rule that amends the
Environmental Quality Incentive Program which is known by many as EQIP. The
Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) is the U.S. Department of
Agriculture's largest conservation program for working agricultural lands.
USDA published an interim final rule containing the statutory changes to EQIP
in the Federal Register on January 15. USDA is seeking public comment on the
rule through March 16, 2009.
USDA’s Natural Resources and Conservation Service administers the EQIP
program. The program is a voluntary conservation program that provides technical
assistance and payments to help crop and livestock producers address
environmental concerns through conservation improvements on agricultural and
non-industrial private forest lands.
Farmers and ranchers can use the Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP)
to farm in an environmentally friendly manner and still meet their agricultural
production goals. The EQIP program is designed to produce significant
environmental benefits to the public, such as improved soil, water and air
quality and enhanced wildlife habitat.
Socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers as well as beginning and limited
resource producers under the amended EQIP program, are authorized to receive
payments of up to 90 percent of the costs of installing or implementing a
conservation practice. These producers also can receive advance payments of up
to 30 percent of the anticipated costs incurred to purchase materials or to
contract services to implement a conservation practice.
The EQIP program offers certified organic farmers and ranchers as well as
producers interested in transitioning to organic farming financial and technical
assistance for conservation practices. Organic producers must develop and carry
out an organic system plan. These producers can receive a maximum payment of
$20,000 annually, or $80,000 over six years to apply or carry out approved
conservation practices contained in that plan.
Forest landowners under the EQIP program will have the offer of financial
assistance to develop a forest management plan, along with carrying out the
conservation practices contained in the plan.
The 2008 Farm Bill reduced the overall payment limitation from $450,000 to
$300,000 for a six-year period, except for environmentally significant projects.
This has been Robert Coats Extension Economist University of Arkansas
Division of Agriculture.
For additional information about EQIP, please visit
http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/EQIP/ or call (202) 720-1845 during business
hours.
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