Environmental Quality Incentives Program
Encyclopedia
The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) is a program created by the 1996 farm bill (P.L. 104-127) to provide primarily cost-sharing assistance, but also technical and educational assistance, aimed at promoting production and environmental quality, and optimizing environmental benefits. The program replaces the Agricultural Conservation Program
, the Water Quality Incentives Program
, the Great Plains Conservation Program
, and the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Program
. EQIP is reauthorized in the 2002 farm bill (P.L. 107-171, Sec. 1241) at $0.4 billion in mandatory spending in FY2002 and rising to $1.3 billion in FY2007. The funding each year is to be divided, with 60% targeted to environmental concerns associated with livestock production and the remainder to crop production. Producers enter into contracts of 1 to 10 years. Participants can receive no more than $450,000 between FY2002 and FY2007. Two new sub programs were created; one provides matching grants for innovative conservation efforts, such as using market systems to reduce pollution and promoting carbon sequestration in soil; and, the second is the Ground and Surface Water Conservation Program
(GSWP).
Agricultural Conservation Program
The Agricultural Conservation Program , administered by the Farm Service Agency, is the largest and oldest conservation cost-sharing program; it paid farmers up to $3,500 per year as an incentive to install approved conservation practices. It was terminated in the 1996 farm bill and replaced by a...
, the Water Quality Incentives Program
Water Quality Incentives Program
The Water Quality Incentives Program was authorized in the 1990 farm bill and administered by the Farm Service Agency. It was repealed and replaced by the Environmental Quality Incentives Program in the 1996 farm bill...
, the Great Plains Conservation Program
Great Plains Conservation Program
The Great Plains Conservation Program , initiated in 1957, provided cost share and technical assistance to apply conservation on entire farms in 10 Great Plains states from the Dakotas and Montana to Texas and New Mexico. Contracts were limited to $35,000. At the end of 1995, over 6,800 farms in...
, and the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Program
Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Program
The Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Program was authorized in theColorado River Basin Salinity Control Act and was repealed and replaced by theEnvironmental Quality Incentives Program in the 1996 farm bill The Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Program was authorized in theColorado River...
. EQIP is reauthorized in the 2002 farm bill (P.L. 107-171, Sec. 1241) at $0.4 billion in mandatory spending in FY2002 and rising to $1.3 billion in FY2007. The funding each year is to be divided, with 60% targeted to environmental concerns associated with livestock production and the remainder to crop production. Producers enter into contracts of 1 to 10 years. Participants can receive no more than $450,000 between FY2002 and FY2007. Two new sub programs were created; one provides matching grants for innovative conservation efforts, such as using market systems to reduce pollution and promoting carbon sequestration in soil; and, the second is the Ground and Surface Water Conservation Program
Ground and Surface Water Conservation Program
In United States agricultural policy, the Ground and Surface Water Conservation Program is a new component of EQIP enacted in the 2002 farm bill to improve irrigation and water use efficiency, and reduce water use by agriculture...
(GSWP).