EQIP: Forest Health

EQIP is a voluntary program that provides technical and financial assistance to agricultural and forest producers who face threats to soil, water, air, and other natural resources on their land. NRCS administers the EQIP program with advice from Local Work Groups (LWG).

The program provides incentives to re-establish forest stands and treat related natural resource concerns such as forest health, water quality, and wildlife habitat.

EQIP can help you with the removal of slash treatment, site preparation, and tree planting to re-establish suitable forest stands. Tree planting can also include seedling damage protection and treatment of competing vegetation during the initial establishment phase.

   Applying into EQIP is easy:

You can apply for EQIP anytime, but a cut-off date of July 15th has been established to apply for fiscal year 2010 funding. If you’re interested learning more about the program, the eligibility requirements and the application process, call or stop by your local office.

Locate your local office.
 

There are five basic steps in the application process:

1) A landowner submits an application at a local USDA Service Center, NRCS office, or conservation district office.

2) NRCS ranks each application using the locally developed natural resources ranking process.

3) When funds are allocated, NRCS commits funds to high ranking applications.

4) NRCS works with the applicant to develop an EQIP conservation plan and contract containing practices which will solve identified resource problems.

5) Following contract signature by NRCS and the participant, funds are obligated to the project and the participant may begin to implement the EQIP conservation plan.

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