Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)

September 18, 2005

The Environmental Quality Incentives Program, authorized by the 2002 Farm Bill, awards cost share assistance to projects which promote both agricultural production (including ranch and forest) and environmental quality. In the 2005 fiscal year, approximately $1,000,000 was conferred to farmers, ranchers and non-industrial timber producers in Mendocino County funding projects ranging in cost from approximately $10,000 to $300,000.

If you are engaged in livestock or crop production on cropland; rangeland; grassland; pastureland; private non-industrial forestland; and other farm or ranchlands you may apply for Environmental Quality Incentives Program benefits. There is no acreage limitation or land designation limitation; you don't necessarily even need to own land. The project may qualify on a piece of land that you lease.

There is a cost-share, generally 50%, which means the Program pays for half the cost of the project and you cover the other half. Your half can be returned monetarily, in labor or you can run your own piece of equipment, within the scope of the project. There are rates for both self-labor and self-equipment use.

Funding priorities focus on fish habitat enhancement, erosion control associated with roads, gullies and streambanks, upland sediment reduction through road improvements, water conservation and forest and rangeland improvement. An example of an upland sediment reduction project may be replacing undersized culverts with properly sized culverts or rock armored fill crossings, improving road drainage and abandoning roads no longer needed. An example of a water conservation project may be upgrading an inefficient watering system with a more efficient watering system, such as drip irrigation. Examples of forestland improvement projects may include thinning, fuelbreaks or hardwood management.

The Program is administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), through which application packages are now available. The Mendocino County application cut-off date is November 18th, 2005. If you have a project that you think may qualify, call the Mendocino County Natural Resources Conservation Service at 707-468-9223. The telephone number for the Humboldt County Natural Resources Conservation Service is 707-444-9708.

I welcome responses as well as ideas for future Tree Tips. You can also get an email version by contacting me at thembi@mcn.org.

Thembi Borras is a Registered Professional Forester living and working in Mendocino County, CA USA.