Agroforestry Assistance

HistoryTechnicalFinancial

ConservationConservation ProgramsPrograms

NRCS Mission:

To provide leadership in a partnership effort to help people conserve, improve and sustain our natural

resources and environment

NRCS Vision:NRCS Vision:

A productive Nation in Harmony with a Quality Environment

Overview

Program Objectives: Conserve our nation’s natural resources: soil, water, air, plants, and animals on private

lands. Grass-roots Conservation…locally led initiatives

• Tailor conservation program to meet local

needs and priorities.» County level

» Watershed level

» Statewide level

The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) is a voluntary program for farmers and rancherswho face serious threats to soil, water and related natural resources.

Technical, financial, and educational assistanceto implement structural, vegetative, and

management practices on private land.

Overview

Program Provides:

The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) is a voluntary program for farmers and rancherswho face serious threats to soil, water and related natural resources.

How the Program WORKS! Conservation Tools (technical, financial, & educational)

Local Conservation LeadershipConservation PlansContractsTechnical and Financial Assistance to

Apply Practices.Conservation of our Natural Resources!

The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) is a voluntary program for farmers and rancherswho face serious threats to soil, water and related natural resources.

Overview

Eligibility Persons engaged in livestock or agricultural production. American Indian TribesMust have control of land for duration of contract Applications having most environmental benefit are

funded first

The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) is a voluntary program for farmers and rancherswho face serious threats to soil, water and related natural resources.

Overview

Conservation Contracting1 - 10 year conservation contract

Obligates financial assistance Reimburses up to 75% cost of practice Incentives payments to try something new Application and follow-up assistance LRF and BF provisions

The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) is a voluntary program for farmers and rancherswho face serious threats to soil, water and related natural resources.

Overview

NRCS provides Technical Assistance Conservation Plan Development Standards and Specifications Provided Planning and Design of Practice Assistance During Application Certification Practice meets Specifications Follow-up on Operation and Maintenance

The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) is a voluntary program for farmers and rancherswho face serious threats to soil, water and related natural resources.

Program Objectives:Enhance Wildlife Habitat Address Local Wildlife Habitat NeedsProvide Technical and Financial

Assistance

The Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program is a voluntary program for people who want to develop and improve wildlife habitat primarily on private lands.

Program Outcomes:Wildlife Habitat EnhancementNatural Resource Enhancement

water, plants, soil, air

Aesthetics - Quality of Life

The Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program is a voluntary program for people who want to develop and improve wildlife habitat primarily on private lands.

How the Program Works: Conservation Plans and Contracts with Land

Stewards Local Wildlife Habitat Development Projects

The Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program is a voluntary program for people who want to develop and improve wildlife habitat primarily on private lands.

Conservation Contracts with Land StewardsConservation Contracting

5 - 10 year conservation contractObligates financial assistanceReimburses up to 75% cost of practiceApplication and follow-up assistance

The Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program is a voluntary program for people who want to develop and improve wildlife habitat primarily on private lands.

Overview

WHIP is:Locally Led ProgramCompetitiveTechnical, Financial, and Educational AssistanceDelivered Through Conservation Plans or

Cooperative AgreementsLocal, State, and National Objectives Met

The Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program is a voluntary program for people who want to develop and improve wildlife habitat primarily on private lands.

The Conservation Reserve Program encourages farmers to plant long-term resourceconserving covers to improve soil, water and wildlife resources.

Eligibility: Cropland planted to commodity crop 2 of last 5 years Be in ownership for one-year Highly erodible land Cropped wetlands

CRP priority area

Program Benefits:Offers annual rental payments for 10-15

yearsCost-shares 50% of the vegetative

establishmentSome Practice Incentive Payments

The Emergency Watershed Protection Program provides technical and financial assistance tocommunities for the restoration of watersheds damaged by natural disasters .

Program Participation: Apply during sign-up periods, or for Continuous Sign Up Practices Producer must determine the amount of conservation he/she wishes to

achieve. Each applications is ranked to identify those having high environmental

benefit. Applications compete nationally. Vegetative cover is established. Natural resources are improved!

New Conservation Programs•Conservation Security Program

•Farm and Ranch Land Protection Program

•Grasslands Reserve Program

Title II Title II

ConservationConservation

•Through FY06 to assist agricultural operators in adoption of conservation practices on working lands.

•Conservation Security plans and contracts to provide land and payment amounts. Payment level is based on level of treatment.

•Three Tiers (Maximum payments)

•Tier I - $20,000

• Tier II - $35,000

•Tier III - $50,000

•Changes to Existing Programs

•New Conservation Programs