The deadline to apply for Ohio’s Environmental Quality Incentives Program is quickly approaching. Here are a few facts to help you decide if EQIP is right for you.
What is EQIP?
EQIP is the Environmental Quality Incentives Program. It’s a voluntary conservation program from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. Through EQIP, farmers can get financial and technical help with conservation practices that limit soil erosion, improve water and air quality and protect wildlife habitat.
What’s new this year?
To qualify for incentive payments for pasture-type practices on grazing operations, producers will have to submit a grazing management plan. Also, a comprehensive nutrient management plan will be required for confined livestock operations to receive water quality points on the ranking tool and to apply for incentive payments for waste storage structures.
How much assistance can I get?
Animal waste management practices, such as manure storage structures, compost facilities and waste storage lagoons, will receive incentive payments of up to 65 percent in Ohio. Practice cost-share can go up to 75 percent in Pennsylvania.
How do I apply?
Visit NRCS at your local USDA service center or at your farm service agency. The application period in Ohio is now active and farmers can apply until Dec. 29.
Where can I find more details?
Get information at www.nrcs.usda.gov/PROGRAMS/EQIP or at your local USDA office.
(Sources: USDA NRCS Web site and Coshocton NRCS)
