imported>Moreau1: updated, fixed incomplete refs

2023-03-28T03:12:56Z

updated, fixed incomplete refs

New page

{{Short description|United States government program}}
[[File:EQIP AM1 (38856750971).jpg|thumb|An organic vegetable farm in [[Montana]] participating in EQIP]]
The '''Environmental Quality Incentives Program''' ('''EQIP''') is a United States government program designed to assist farmers in improving environmental quality, particularly [[water quality]] and [[soil conservation]]. [[United States Congress|Congress]] established the program in the [[1996 farm bill]] to provide primarily cost-sharing assistance, but also technical and educational assistance, aimed at promoting production and environmental quality, and optimizing environmental benefits.<ref>United States. Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996. {{uspl|104|127}} Approved April 4, 1996.</ref>

The program replaced the [[Agricultural Conservation Program]], the [[Water Quality Incentives Program]], the [[Great Plains Conservation Program]], and the [[Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Program]]. EQIP was reauthorized in the [[2002 farm bill]] at $0.4 billion in mandatory spending in FY2002 and rising to $1.3 billion in FY2007.<ref>United States. Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002. {{uspl|107|171}}. Approved May 13, 2002. Sec. 1241.</ref> The funding each year is to be divided, with 60% targeted to environmental concerns associated with livestock production and the remainder to crop production. Producers enter into contracts of 1 to 10 years. Participants can receive no more than $450,000 between FY2002 and FY2007. Two new sub-programs were created. One provides matching grants for innovative conservation efforts, such as using market systems to reduce pollution and promoting [[carbon sequestration]] in soil. The second is the [[Ground and Surface Water Conservation Program]] (GSWP).

The program's financial aid to farmers in purchasing more efficient irrigation equipment was intended to conserve water. The assistance has had the [[unintended consequences|unintended consequence]] of increasing water use and lowering [[water table]]s in the [[Great Plains]] as additional land was brought into cultivation to use the water that was "saved".<ref name=NYT6613>{{cite news|title=Farm Subsidies Leading to More Water Use|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/07/us/irrigation-subsidies-leading-to-more-water-use.html|accessdate=June 7, 2013|newspaper=The New York Times|date=June 6, 2013|author=Ron Nixon}}</ref>

Congress added features to the program in the [[2018 United States farm bill|2018 Farm Bill]].<ref name="NRCS-EQIP">{{cite web |title=Environmental Quality Incentives Program |url=https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs-initiatives/eqip-environmental-quality-incentives |date=2023-03-27 |publisher=U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service |location=Washington, D.C.}}</ref><ref>United States. Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018. {{uspl|115|334}} Approved 2018-12-20.</ref>

EQIP is administered by the [[Natural Resources Conservation Service]] in the [[United States Department of Agriculture|Department of Agriculture]].<ref name="NRCS-EQIP"/>

== Practices Eligible for Funding ==
The EQIP covers up to 75 percent of costs incurred and 100 percent of income foregone for implementing eligible conservation practices for awardees.<ref>Environmental Quality Incentives Program. 16 U.S.C. § 3839aa-2(d)(2)(B)–(C) (2006) (noting how for “historically underserved producers,” the costs covered for eligible EQIP practices are up to 90 percent.)</ref> There are a variety of conservation practices that are eligible for funding under EQIP.

=== Grazing ===
Managed [[rotational grazing]], a method of livestock production in which animals are moved between pastures in order to let pastureland rest, is included as an eligible practice under EQIP.<ref>{{cite report |last=Harris |first=Jenileigh |title=Managed Rotational Grazing Policies. An Overview of Farm Bill Programs to Support Regenerative Agriculture |url=https://www.vermontlaw.edu/sites/default/files/2023-01/Managed-Rotational-Grazing.pdf |date=January 2023 |publisher=Center for Agriculture and Food Systems; Vermont Law and Graduate School |location=South Royalton, VT}}</ref> Specifically, the most common managed grazing practices that may receive funding include: design plans and identification of infrastructure and materials needs such as fencing, planting, and water systems;<ref>{{cite web |title=Livestock and Pasture Management |url=https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/getting-assistance/other-topics/organic/nrcs-assistance-for-organic-farmers/livestock-and-pasture-management |access-date=2023-03-27 |publisher=NRCS}}</ref> prescribed grazing systems that improve or maintain water quality, plant communities, watersheds, or wildlife cover;<ref>{{cite web |title=Prescribed Grazing. Conservation Practice Standard, Code 528 |url=https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/sites/default/files/2022-09/Prescribed_Grazing_528_CPS.pdf |date=March 2017 |publisher=NRCS |id=528-CPS-1}}</ref> and mechanical treatment to improve soil and plant conditions.<ref>{{cite web |title=Grazing Land Mechanical Treatment. Conservation Practice Standard, Code 548 |url=https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/resources/guides-and-instructions/grazing-land-mechanical-treatment-ac-548-conservation-practice |date=July 2022 |publisher=NRCS |id=548-CPS-1}}</ref> At the national level, 50 percent of EQIP funding is reserved for livestock operations.<ref>Environmental Quality Incentives Program. 16 U.S.C. § 3839aa-2(f)(1) (2006).</ref>

== References ==
{{commons category}}
{{Reflist}}
*{{CRS|article = Report for Congress: Agriculture: A Glossary of Terms, Programs, and Laws, 2005 Edition|url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110810044532/http://ncseonline.org/nle/crsreports/05jun/97-905.pdf|author= Jasper Womach}}

[[Category:Agricultural soil science]]
[[Category:United States Department of Agriculture programs]]
[[Category:Water conservation]]
[[Category:Water pollution in the United States]]
[[Category:Federal assistance in the United States]]

Environmental Quality Incentives Program - Revision history

imported>Moreau1: updated, fixed incomplete refs