Caribbean Area 2008 Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)

Updated 06/13/2008

Program Overview

EQIP is a Federally-funded program under the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (Farm Bill) and is administered by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

The 2008 Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) is a voluntary conservation program to help farmers with financial and technical assistance in the installation and implementation of conservation practices on eligible agricultural land. Through EQIP, farmers in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands may receive assistance for agricultural production and environmental quality as compatible goals.

EQIP offers contracts with a minimum term that ends one year after the implementation of the last scheduled practice, and a maximum term of ten years. These contracts provide incentive payments and cost-shares to implement conservation practices. EQIP activities are carried out according to an environmental quality incentives program plan of operations developed in conjunction with the producer. The plan identifies the appropriate conservation practice or practices to address the identified resource concerns. The practices are subject to NRCS standards and specifications. For details on EQIP program description, requirements, rules and supporting documents visit the USDA-NRCS EQIP Program website.

FY 2008 EQIP PROGRAM

Priorities

Resource inventories developed by Local Working Groups (LWGs) to address primary resource concerns such as livestock, water quality, erosion reduction and habitat improvement identified the following priorities for FY 2008:

• Reduction of nonpoint source pollutants (nutrients, sediment, or pesticides) in an impaired watershed, as well as the reduction of groundwater contamination and the conservation of ground and surface water resources. (Comprehensive Nutrient Management and Integrated Pest Management Plans).
• Reduction in soil erosion and sedimentation from unacceptably high rates on highly erodible land.
• Improvement of air quality.
• Reduction of energy consumption.
• Promotion of habitat recovery.
• Grazing land conservation.
• Water conservation.

Eligibility

Any farmer engaged in livestock or crop production on eligible land (such as croplands, pasture and hayland, rangeland, private non-industrial forestland) may apply for EQIP. In order to be considered an Agricultural Producer, there must be a minimum of $1,000 or more of agricultural products produced and sold, or that normally would have been sold. (Proof provided by IRS Schedule F showing profit or loss from farm operations.) 

Cost Share Rates

EQIP may cost-share up to 50 percent of the costs of certain conservation practices. Limited resource producers and beginning farmers may be eligible for cost-shares up to 90 percent (Check out the Limited Resource Farmer and Beginning Farmer Tool to see if you qualify). Program participants may elect to use a certified Technical Service Provider (TSP) for technical assistance. Select Puerto Rico and/or the Virgin Islands on the  Technical Service Providers Map to find certified providers for Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

The maximum total cost-share and/or incentive payment an individual or entity may receive, directly of indirectly, is limited to $450,000 for all EQIP contracts during the term of the Farm Bill. Highest priority will be given to applications that provide the most environmental benefit.

2008 EQIP Conservation Signup Documents

Signup and Application Information

Interested agricultural producers in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands may apply in person at any USDA Service Center. Applicants may also request EQIP assistance by telephone, FAX, e-mail, or letter. The FY 2008 EQIP application deadline is December 15, 2007. A signed application form CCC-1200 (see below)  must be received no later than the close of business on December 15, 2007 to be considered for fiscal year 2008 funds. Any applications received after the cutoff date will be held for evaluation for funding the following fiscal year. Application forms and additional signup information can be obtained from your local USDA Service Center or NRCS Field Office.

Visit the USDA Service Center EForms Web Site for instructions and information.

Forms Needed to Signup for EQIP

The following information requires Adobe Acrobat  NRCS-CPA-1200, EQIP Program Application & Appendix NRCS-CPA-1200, Solicitud para el Programa de Conservación (129 KB) Calidad Ambiental, (EQIP, por sus siglas en Inglés)

Forms Needed for Conservation Planning

NRCS-CPA-1155, Conservation Plan and Schedule of Operations NRCS-CPA-1155, Plan de Conservación e Itinerario de Operaciones (169 KB) NRCS-CPA-1156, Revision of Conservation Plan or Schedule of Operations or Modification of Contract NRCS-CPA-1156, Revisión del Plan E Itinerario de Operaciones o Modificación del Contracto (106 KB)

Application Ranking and Selection Process

Annually, NRCS establishes a cut-off date for applications to be evaluated and ranked for current year funding. The evaluation cut-off date for Fiscal Year 2008 is December 31, 2007. 

Once an application is received by NRCS:

1. NRCS will contact the applicant to conduct an evaluation and ranking of the application.
2. The application will be ranked against all of the other applications within the local work group area/county or tribal area.  Applications received to address resource concerns related to confined livestock operations will be ranked in a statewide pool.
3. After the cutoff date, NRCS will notify the applicant in writing of selection, deferment, or cancellation of the EQIP application.
4. If selected for funding, the contract development process will be initiated.

Applicants selected for funding are not authorized to begin the installation of a conservation practice until they have a CCC-1202 Conservation Program Contract, signed by a CCC representative (NRCS Contracting Officer).

The Ranking Templates used to rank EQIP applications include questions that address various resource concerns and range from Water Quality and Water Quantity to Soil Erosion and Plant/Animal Health. The more resource concerns that are being addressed the higher the applicant's score. Once all applications have been ranked the allocation process will begin with the highest scoring applications funded, until all the funds have been exhausted.

Conservation Practices

Several practices are included in the program to address resource concerns. Among them are: waste storage facilities, manure transfer, pipeline watering facilities for livestock, irrigation, waterways, hillside ditches, filter strips, contour farming, buffers, and wildlife habitat. Conservation Practices must meet NRCS technical standards. The participant will receive technical assistance for the planning and implementation of the conservation practices. Copies of the lists of approved practices for Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands can be obtained from your local USDA Service Center or NRCS Field Office.

Local Participation and Work Groups

NRCS supports the locally-led conservation effort in the delivery of conservation programs. The USDA Local Work Group (LWG) serves as the starting point in the development and coordination of programs to provide and integral approach for addressing local natural resource concerns. The LWG ensures that the conservation needs assessment is developed using community stakeholder input. Utilizing the assessment process, the LWG identifies resource concerns, recommends practices, priorities, payment rates, cost-share levels and funding needs.

The Director of the Caribbean Area will make funding available to field offices based on local requests, previous funding demand and other related factors. Available funds should be obligated by May 30, 2008.

For More Information

For more information on this year's program or prior years' ranking criteria or cost lists, please contact the EQIP program manager, José A. Castro, at (787) 766-5206 Extension 226 or jose.castro@pr.usda.gov. You can also contact your local USDA Service Center or NRCS Field Office or visit the National NRCS website at: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/ for more information.

Contact

José A. Castro: 787-766-5206 x. 226

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