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Environmental Quality Incentives Program The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) provides technical and financial assistance to agricultural producers to implement structural and management conservation practices on eligible agricultural land through contracts up to a maximum term of ten years in length. These contracts provide financial assistance to help eligible participants address natural resource concerns and improve soil, water, air, plant, animal, and related resources on eligible agricultural land and non-industrial private forestland. EQIP may also help producers meet Federal, State, Tribal and local environmental regulations. It is a voluntary program that promotes environmental quality in agricultural production. EQIP was reauthorized in the 2008 Farm Bill and is administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).
How EQIP Works The philosophy for EQIP in Alaska is to meet national priorities, be locally driven, and provide flexibility for landowners to achieve their diverse conservation objectives. The Alaska EQIP and WHIP Policy is available in an Adobe Acrobat PDF format. EQIP provides financial assistance payments to eligible producers based on a portion of the average cost associated with practice implementation. Additional payments are available to help producers develop conservation plans with assistance from a certified Technical service Provider (TSP). Conservation plans developed by NRCS or a TSP are not required to obtain financial assistance. Historically underserved producers (limited resource farmers/ranchers, beginning farmers/ranchers, socially disadvantaged producers, Tribes) may be eligible for a higher practice payment rate for the implementation of conservation practices and creation of conservation plans. Historically underserved producers may also be eligible for advance payments up to 30 percent of the cost needed to purchase materials or contracting services to begin installation of approved conservation practices. Participants and their local NRCS office work together to develop plans and designs that meet the landowner's goals and address identified natural resource concerns. Once that plan is developed, the participant may seek financial assistance to implement the plan. If a contract is awarded, the participant is responsible for installation of practices to meet NRCS standards and design specifications. Payment for implementation follows successful installation of the practice by the participant. Producers may also use a TSP for technical assistance needed for certain eligible activities, services and the development of conservation plans or designs. National Water Quality Initiative Through the National Water Quality Initiative (NWQI), NRCS is offering financial and technical assistance to farmers, ranchers and forest landowners interested in improving water quality and aquatic habitats in priority watersheds with impaired streams. The five watersheds eligible in Alaska are: Gartina Creek, Humpback Creek, Gallagher Creek, Gunnuk Creek, Lake Seclusion - Frontal Kaigani Strait. More information, maps, a fact sheet and news release are available. Local Priorities Local priorities are established by Local Working Groups (LWG). LWGs are convened in each service area and are composed of local representatives of producer groups, conservation organizations, Alaska Native entities, agribusinesses, and federal, state, and tribal government agencies. Each LWG identifies priority resource concerns within their particular service area. For information on the LWG meeting in your area, contact your nearest NRCS Field Office. The EQIP application process is competitive for the awarding of contracts. There is no order of importance to the listing of National or State Priorities. All Priorities receive equal consideration for ranking and funding.
Anchorage Priorities
Ranking Tools
The following documents require
Adobe Acrobat
How Funds are Allocated Throughout the State Funds are allocated to address the Nation, State and Local Priorities in the form of sub-funds or “funding pools”. Applicants may apply for any funding pool for which they are eligible. Applicants compete for funding within the funding pools they choose. There is no competition for funds between different funding pools. National policy requires that 5 percent of the total Alaska EQIP allocation be directed to Socially Disadvantaged applicants and 5 percent be directed to Beginning Farmer applicants free from competition with general applicants. The Organic Initiative is funded directly at the National level and any funds in those funding pools that are not awarded to a contract will return to National Headquarters. All other Alaska funding pools receive a distribution of funds that are allocated to the state. If the eligible applications within a particular funding pool total less than the amount available within the pool, excess funds will be redistributed to other fund pools so that the allocated EQIP dollars will remain in the state. Alaska Funding Pools
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Aquatic
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Certified Organic
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Delta Junction/Copper Center - Cropland
More EQIP Information
ContactAl White, Assistant State
Conservationist - Programs |
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