Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) John Hester USDA-NRCS United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service

EQIP is a voluntary conservation program that promotes agricultural production and environmental quality as compatible Nation goals. Through EQIP, farmers and ranchers may receive financial and technical help to install or implement structural and management conservation practices on eligible agricultural land. Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)

Primary Changes New maximum payment limitation: $450,000 per individual or entity for all contracts signed in fiscal years Targets 60% of annual funds to practices relating to livestock production

Primary Changes Minimum contract length has been reduced to 1 year Payments can be made in the first year of the contract Allows higher cost-share rates for limited resource and beginning producers (up to 90%)

Application are Competitive In the past, the applications which have addressed a wider variety of resources concerns have ranked higher. Producer A Land Regrading Producer B Land Regrading Surge Valve Pest Mgt Nutrient Mgt Winter Flooding Producer C Land Regrading Cover Crop Surge Valve Filter Strip Nutrient Mgt Pest Mgt Winter Flooding

Missouri 2004 EQIP Policies have not been finalized Scoring Worksheets, Practices, and Cost Share/Incentives are anticipated to have only minor changes Competitive regions will probably change Check with your local NRCS office

Irrigation Practices Available Surface Irrigation Irrigation Land Leveling-Regrade Up to $65 per acre Surge Valves 50% Cost Share Underground Pipeline 65% Cost Share

Irrigation Practices Available Surface Irrigation Permanent Outside Levee Up to 50% of County Avg. Cost Tailwater Recovery Up to 50% County Avg. Cost Conversion to Center Pivot Up to 40% County Avg. cost Conservation to Drip Irrigation Up to 50% County Avg. Cost

Irrigation Practices Available Sprinkler Irrigation Re-Nozzling 50% cost share Re-Nozzling with Drops 50% cost share Re-Nozzle with Drops and Pressure Regulators 50% cost share Conversion to Drip Irrigation 50% cost share

United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service For More Information, visit: Your local USDA Service Center

USDA EQUAL OPPORTUNITY STATEMENT The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) pro- hibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille large print, audio tape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA,Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326W, Whitten Building, 14th & Independence Avenue, SW, Washington,DC or call (202) (Voice or TDD).USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. hibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille large print, audio tape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA,Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326W, Whitten Building, 14th & Independence Avenue, SW, Washington,DC or call (202) (Voice or TDD).USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.