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How to Apply for EQIP

Updated 12/30/2005

EQIP is a continuous sign-up program that allows landowners or operators to apply for financial and technical assistance for specific conservation practices.  Contact the service center in the county in which you own land. Before applying, producers need to read the details of the EQIP Program.

Eligibility:  Producer's Responsibility

  1. In order to be eligible to sign up for EQIP, the applicant must be determined to be an eligible producer by NRCS
  2. If the producer is a corporation or joint venture/applications, a CCC-502 Farm Operating Plan will be required
    • Download a Adobe AcrobatCCC-502A - Farm Operating Plan for an individual
    • Download a Adobe AcrobatCCC-502B - Farm Operating Plan for a joint venture or partnership
  3. Provide a copy of the deed to the land to be enrolled in the EQIP program
  4. If the land is leased, the landowner or leaser will provide a copy of the lease
  5. A CCC-526 Adjusted Income Form will need to be filled out and submitted to FSA
    • Download a Adobe AcrobatCCC-526 - Adjusted Gross Income Certification
  6. Fill out an AD 1026 – Highly Erodible Land Conservation (HELC) and Wetland Conservation (WC) Certification. The determination on the land will be made by NRCS.
  7. Proof of agricultural production (must have $1,000 of agriculture production for 2 of the last 5 years or have filed Schedule F with IRS 1040)
  8. Name, address, social security number, tax identification number
  9. If a current producer wishes to enroll in another county, the information in the data base will be added to the new county at your request. 
  10. Beginning Farmer or Rancher: After the information is verified, a producer will be entered in the Service Center Information Management System (SCIMS) in the county matching the deed. Click here to learn more about Limited Resource, Beginning and Small-scale farmer initiative.
  11. Applicants must have submitted all eligibility documents 30 days after the end of the sign-up period, or they will be determined ineligible.

Additional Requirements

  1. Apply by completing a CCC-1200 Conservation Program Application/Contract.
  2. Since sign-up is an on-going process; there may be more than one window of opportunity to apply for funding.
  3. If a producer applies after close of a funding period, the application will automatically be deferred to the next funding period.
  4. A certified conservation planner determines that land offered for 2006 EQIP has a resource concern that is addressed through application of the conservation practices eligible for this signup period.
  5. Cost share percentages depend on producer status (i.e., Limited Resource Farmer, Beginning Farmer and/or Small-Scale Farmer)
  6. The NRCS planner ranks the applications using forms developed for each county.
  7. Within 30 to 60 days of applying, the producer will be notified of application status by mail.
  8. If approved, call NRCS to make an appointment to discuss the plan and contract that will be prepared.
  9. Within 30 days, NRCS will notify the producer when the contract is ready to sign.
  10. Contact NRCS to make an appointment to review the contract.
  11. The NRCS representative and the producer sign the contract.
  12. The producer will now begin installing the conservation practices.
  13. When the practices are completed, contact NRCS to make an appointment to certify the practices on the land.
  14. NRCS certifies the practices and processes the payment documents.
  15. A 1199 Direct Deposit form must be filled out to make payment.

This page also allows a link to your individual county. The County Resource Concerns, Eligible Practices, Cost Lists, and Ranking Criteria will be able for downloading and printing.

You may contact your local USDA Service Center with links provided on the website to ask for more information.