ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY INCENTIVES PROGRAM (EQIP) Program Description

The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), administered by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), provides financial and technical assistance to agricultural producers and nonindustrial forest managers to address natural resource concerns and deliver environmental benefits.

• EQIP supports climate-related goals by funding conservation practices and energy efficiency improvements that sequester carbon, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and build resilience to climate change. Specific examples of supported practices include agroforestry, no-till farming, and cover crops.
• The program includes a subprogram called Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) to develop innovative approaches to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and conserving natural resources. This includes On-Farm Conservation Innovation Trials, which are designed to offset risks for producers adopting innovative conservation approaches.
• Funding for EQIP is provided through the 2018 Farm Bill and the Inflation Reduction Act. The 2018 Farm Bill authorized mandatory funding increasing from $1.75 billion in FY 2019 and 2020 to $2.025 billion in FY 2023. The Inflation Reduction Act allocated $8.45 billion for EQIP, distributed across FY 2023 ($250 million), FY 2024 ($1.75 billion), FY 2025 ($3 billion), and FY 2026 ($3.45 billion).
• Payment amounts for practices are generally limited to 75 percent of costs for planning, design, materials, equipment, installation, labor, management, maintenance, or training, and 100 percent of income foregone by the producer. However, for limited resource, socially disadvantaged, veteran, or beginning farmers and ranchers, the Secretary can increase cost-share payments to up to 90 percent and increase the rate by at least 25 percent.
• Specific funding targets are mandated for certain sectors: at least 50 percent of funds for FY 2019 through 2023 must be targeted at livestock production practices, including grazing management. For FY 2019 through 2031, at least 10 percent of funds must be targeted at practices benefiting wildlife habitat.
• The program provides specialized support for organic production and transition, requiring producers to develop and carry out an organic system plan. Payments for these practices are capped at $140,000 during the period of fiscal years 2019 through 2023.

APA

Environmental and Energy Study Institute (2023). ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY INCENTIVES PROGRAM (EQIP) Program Description. https://www.eesi.org/files/Farm-Bill-2023-Side-by-Side-Environmental-Quality-Incentives-Program-EQIP.pdf

Chicago

Environmental and Energy Study Institute. ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY INCENTIVES PROGRAM (EQIP) Program Description. 2023. https://www.eesi.org/files/Farm-Bill-2023-Side-by-Side-Environmental-Quality-Incentives-Program-EQIP.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Environmental and Energy Study Institute |title=ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY INCENTIVES PROGRAM (EQIP) Program Description |date=31 July 2023 |url=https://www.eesi.org/files/Farm-Bill-2023-Side-by-Side-Environmental-Quality-Incentives-Program-EQIP.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{environmentalandenergystudyinstitute2023environmental, author = {{Environmental and Energy Study Institute}}, title = {{ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY INCENTIVES PROGRAM (EQIP) Program Description}}, institution = {Environmental and Energy Study Institute}, year = {2023}, month = jul, url = {https://www.eesi.org/files/Farm-Bill-2023-Side-by-Side-Environmental-Quality-Incentives-Program-EQIP.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }