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How EQIP Works in Tennessee

Updated 10/12/2006

EQIP is a continuous sign-up program that allows landowners or operators to apply for financial and technical assistance for the application of specific conservation practices. For Fiscal Year 2007, all applications received as of December 15, 2006, will be evaluated for assistance for the 2007 program. Higher priority will be given to those applications that address the local, state, or national priorities and provide the most environmental benefit.

The NRCS in Tennessee has implemented a lean and local process that streamlines the application and evaluation procedures. The State Technical Committee and Local Work Groups have recommended the practices eligible for financial assistance and the cost share and incentive rates that will be paid.

In Tennessee, financial assistance funds will be used to address both the local high priority practices identified by the Local Work Group (LWG) and the statewide resource concerns identified by the State Technical Committee. Landowners and operators will choose the practices and evaluation system that best fits their needs.

Cost share rates will normally not exceed 50 percent for regular producers, with the exception of Animal Waste Storage Facility for existing livestock operations, which will be at 75%. Animal Waste Storage Facility for new operations will be at 50% cost share. Limited Resource Farmers and Ranchers (LRF) and Small Scale Farmers will be eligible for a higher percent cost share for all eligible practices. Limited Resource Farmers and Ranchers will receive 90 percent cost share. Small Scale Farmers will be funded at 75 percent Cost Share. Beginning Farmers and Ranchers will be eligible for a cost share rate higher than the regular rate in some counties as determined by the LWG. A special LRF program is also available for 2007. A LRF may apply for practices eligible in the County Base program, statewide resource concerns or the special LRF/R program.

A contract containing an EQIP Plan of Operations will be developed on applications that are accepted into the program. The minimum contract period will be one year following implementation of the last conservation practice but cannot exceed 10 years. Technical assistance will be provided by NRCS or, if desired, by a private Technical Service Provider (TSP) funded by NRCS.

Producer Eligibility

Agricultural producers engaged in livestock or agricultural production may participate in EQIP. There are, however, circumstances that may limit an individual’s or entity’s participation; these include:

Federal and state governments and political subdivisions thereof, are not eligible.
The applicant must be in compliance with highly erodible land and wetland conservation provisions.
The individual or entity may not be eligible due to Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) provisions.

Eligibility Criteria

In order to be eligible to signup for EQIP, the applicant must be determined to be an eligible producer by the NRCS. The land offered for EQIP must also be determined eligible by NRCS. Eligible land for the 2007 EQIP signup is land that has a resource concern identified by a certified conservation planner that can be addressed through application of the conservation practices eligible for this signup period. The participant must complete and sign all necessary forms including the CCC-1200 and Appendix (which is the official application form) prior to the end of the signup period. Eligibility forms and documentation required by the Farm Service Agency (FSA) must be submitted to FSA within 30 days after application for the program is made. Cost-share eligibility is contingent on the producer not starting the practice prior to having an approved EQIP contract signed by the appropriate Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) representative or without prior approval by the NRCS State Conservationist.

Ranking Pools

Eligible persons may choose to apply in the county base program recommended by the Local Work Group or in one or more of the Statewide Resource Concerns recommended by the State Technical Committee.

The base program will vary from county to county depending on the priorities set at the local level.

The State Resource Concerns to be addressed in 2007 are listed below. Check the link for state information to find the high priority counties and eligible practices.