Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) Grazing – Our Most Commonly Used Conservation Practices

Grazing EQIP…  Available since 1996  Program has grown--popularity & funding  Remains NRCS’ principal program—FA & CTA--for private landowners

Grazing EQIP supports needs of agricultural operations with or without livestock, offering ideas, solutions, & guidance for successful, sustainable conservation operations

Grazing Practices described & shown can be selected & installed after developing a conservation plan designed to address your specific resource concerns.

Grazing EQIP Applications…  Taken ANY time  Ranked to measure resource needs & environmental benefits gained  Not all can be accepted  Can be re-submitted

Grazing Your EQIP Contract…  Contracting Procedures:  “Application Phase”  “Contracting Phase”  “Contracting Phase”  “First 12 months of a contract”  “First 12 months of a contract”  “Contract reviews”  Timelines  Timelines

Grazing Payments…  Cannot be made until EQIP CONTRACT is developed  Contract obligations—yours & NRCS’— must be met  Activity/Progress must be made within 12-months of contract

Grazing CNMP ‘101’  Producer needs a CNMP  What information do they need to have to get started?  What does a CNMP involve?  Who would be doing it? (probably a TSP, with a discussion of how this works)  What practices will be recommended and how do they address resource concerns? What will be changed in the operation if the CNMP is implemented? i.e. changes in storage volumes, production capacity changes, utilization of waste applied, etc.  and so on

Grazing Illinois’ Most Common EQIP Conservation Practices — Grazing EQIP —

Grazing Fencing  May be applied where control is needed for:  Animal or people movement,  Wildlife movement,  Livestock management, &  Soil erosion potential with fence install on steep slopes.

Grazing Pipeline  Deliver water from a source of supply to points of use for livestock

Grazing Prescribed Grazing  Applied as part of a conservation system:  Improves or maintains health & vigor of key species,  Provides or maintains food, cover & shelter for animals of concern.

Grazing Stream Crossing  A stabilized area or structure constructed across streams:  Improves water quality,  Reduces streambank, streambed erosion & streambed erosion &  Provides access to other grazed lands-- people, stock, equipment.

Grazing Upland Wildlife Habitat Management  Provides treatment of upland wildlife habitat concerns:  Landowner identifies objective for conserving wild animal species &  Targets wildlife species  Enhances shelter, cover, & food.

Grazing Access Road  A travel-way for equipment & vehicles  Protects soil, air, fish, wildlife resources

Grazing Brush Management  Includes removal, reduction, or manipulation of non-herbaceous plants:  Manages noxious/invasive woody plants,  Restore desired vegetative cover & forage  Protect soils, life & property from wildfire hazards.

Grazing Heavy Use Area Protection  Stabilizes frequently, intensively used livestock areas:  Reduces soil erosion  Improves livestock health.

Grazing Watering Facility  Provides access to water for livestock  Protects & enhances vegetative cover  Controls erosion, &  Protects streams & ponds.

Grazing Windbreak/Shelterbelt Establishment  Linear plantings of single or multiple rows of trees or shrubs  Improves air quality, reduces wind erosion  Serve as living noise screens, &  Offer shelter for livestock.

Grazing Conservation Practices  Most common shown  Other practices available  Support land, resource needs, objectives  Pick those that fit your operation & your budget!

Grazing Programs  Other NRCS programs may suit your needs, your land better  CSP  WRP  WHIP  Visit  Make appointment w/ District Conservationist today!

Grazing USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Helping People Help the Land Thank You!