Environmental Quality Incentives Program

NRCS works one-on-one with producers to develop a conservation plan that meets their goals and vision. This plan becomes a roadmap for selecting the right conservation practices for your land to help solve on-farm resource issues. Producers implement practices and activities in their conservation plan that can lead to cleaner water and air, healthier soil and better wildlife habitat, all while improving their agricultural operations.

EQIP helps producers make conservation work for them. NRCS offers about 200 unique practices designed for working farms, ranches, and forests. NRCS financial assistance can cover part of the costs of implementing conservation practices. Some producers may also qualify for advance payment.

Through EQIP, NRCS provides agricultural producers with one-on-one help and financial assistance to plan and implement improvements, or what NRCS calls conservation practices. Together, NRCS and producers invest in solutions that conserve natural resources for the future while improving agricultural operations. Some of these benefits include:

• Reduced contamination from agricultural sources, such as animal feeding operations.

• Efficient use of nutrients, reducing input costs and reduction in nonpoint source pollution.

• Improved soil health, which mitigates against increasing weather volatility, improves drought resiliency and can positively affect climate change.

• Implementation of climate-smart practices that improve carbon sequestration and reduce greenhouse gas emissions while building resilient landscapes.

An EQIP Contract is a binding contract between an eligible producer and NRCS that provides cost-share funds to install approved conservation practices to address resource concerns.

Cost-share is NOT a grant. In cost-share, the landowner initiates and pays for all conservation treatments specified in the NRCS contract. Once those activities are certified as complete and meet NRCS standards and specifications, NRCS will reimburse the landowner based on average costs and cost-share rates established in the contract.

Cost share rates are flat rates based on average costs in Maine. Limited resource producers, beginning farmers and socially disadvantaged producers may qualify for cost-share rates up to 90% of total cost.

An EQIP contract lasts from three to ten years depending on plan specifics. Under the agreement, the landowner agrees to maintain practices and allow NRCS access to monitor the practice for its specified life expectancy (i.e. grassed waterway-10 years).

NRCS offers technical assistance at no cost. Producers can use personalized advice and information, based on the latest science and research, to make informed decisions about their land.

Technical Service Providers (TSP) can help producers plan, design and implement conservation practices or develop conservation activity plans to improve their agricultural operations. For more information on the Technical Service Provider program, visit the TSP page.

Technical assistance is also offered through our Conservation Technical Assistance (CTA) program.

Need a local Technical Service Provider? Visit the locate a TSP page.

Farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners who own or rent agricultural land are eligible. EQIP assistance can be used on all types of agricultural operations, including:

• Conventional and organic

• Specialty crops and commodity crops

• Forestry and wildlife

• Historically underserved farmers*

• Livestock operations

*Increased and advance payments available for historically underserved producers (beginning, limited resource, socially disadvantaged, and military veterans.)