Caribbean Area Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)

Updated 12/04/2012

Program Overview

EQIP is a Federally-funded program under the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (Farm Bill) and is administered by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

The 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 2013 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 2013:

• National On-Farm Energy Initiative (NOFEI) - NRCS will help producers identify ways to conserve energy on their farms through an Agricultural Energy Management Plan (AgEMP) conservation activity plan (CAP) or on-farm energy audit, and help producers implement energy audit recommendations by applying NRCS conservation practices to improve energy efficiency.
• National Organic Initiative (NOI) - NRCS will help eligible producers (certified organic producers and producers who are transitioning to become certified organic) install conservation practices on organic agricultural operations. Resource concerns to be addressed include: Soil condition, Soil erosion, Water quality (nutrients, organics, sediment, pathogens and temperature), Water quantity, Domestic animals (inadequate feed, forage, water & shelter), Plant condition, and Fish & wildlife (inadequate cover/shelter, threatened & endangered species).
• National Seasonal High Tunnel Initiative (NSHTI) - NRCS will help producers extend their growing season for high value crops in an environmentally-safe manner. The initiative can help producers address a resource concern (sheet & rill erosion; soil organic matter depletion; harmful nutrients, organics & pesticides in surface waters; poor plant condition) by improving plant quality, improving soil quality, and reducing nutrient and pesticide transport.
• Coral Reef Initiative - NRCS will help producers reduce nonpoint source pollutants (nutrients, sediment, or pesticides) in impaired watersheds, reducing groundwater contamination, and conserving ground and surface water resources. (Comprehensive Nutrient Management and Integrated Pest Management Plans).
• Protecting and conserving soils to reduce soil erosion and sedimentation.
• Improving air quality by reducing odors, greenhouse gases (methane and carbon dioxide) from AFOs/CAFOs, and chemical drift; planting trees for carbon sequestration.
• Reducing energy consumption and improving energy use efficiency.
• Promoting habitat recovery and protecting threatened/endangered species.
• Improving grazing & crop land plant & soil condition (reducing compaction, invasive species, contaminants, organic matter depletion and improving plant productivity).
• Improving water retention, water use efficiency and conserving water resources.
• Reducing surface & ground water quality impairment from pathogens, pesticides, excessive nutrients & organics, salinity and sediment.

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 75 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.

2013 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 2013 EQIP application period is continuous throughout the year. Applications will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis. A signed application form CCC-1200 (see below) must be submitted to be considered for fiscal year 2012 funds. 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.

Application Ranking and Selection Process

Applications for EQIP are accepted on a continuous basis, however, NRCS establishes application "cut-off" or submission deadline dates for evaluation and ranking of eligible applications. 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. 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.

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 Ext. 117 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, Assistant State Conservationist, at 787-766-5206 x. 117

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