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Vermont 2010 EQIP Information

General Program Description

EQIP offers financial and technical help to assist eligible participants install or implement structural and management practices on eligible agricultural land.

All approved EQIP contracts will have a minimum term that ends one year after the implementation of the last scheduled practice and a maximum term of ten years. Contracts will provide set payments to implement eligible conservation practices, based on a per unit cost of installing a practice in a typical scenario.

Persons who are engaged in livestock or agricultural production on eligible land may participate in the EQIP program. Contracted EQIP activities are carried out according to an environmental quality incentives program plan of operations which is developed with the producer. The EQIP Plan of Operations identifies the appropriate conservation practice or practices to address resource concerns. The contracted practices must be implemented according to NRCS technical standards adapted for local conditions.

EQIP payment rates may cover up to 75 percent of the costs of installing certain conservation practices in a typical setting. However, limited resource producers, beginning farmers and ranchers, and socially disadvantaged farmers may be eligible for up to 90 percent. Payments for specified management practices may be provided for up to three years to encourage producers to carry out those practices which they may not otherwise implement. An individual or entity may not receive, directly or indirectly, payments that, in the aggregate, exceed $300,000 for all EQIP contracts entered during the term of the Farm Bill.

EQIP participants may elect to use certified Technical Service Providers for technical assistance.

EQIP is administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Vermont Specific EQIP Information

EQIP program sign-ups are conducted at USDA Service Centers in Vermont.

NEW INFORMATION: HIGH TUNNELS

The following document requires Acrobat Reader.
High Tunnels Fact Sheet (PDF; 75 KB)
High Tunnels FAQ (PDF; 19 KB)

NEW INFORMATION: 2010 ORGANIC INITIATIVE - DEADLINE TO APPLY IS MARCH 12, 2010

There is over $300,000 available in Vermont to certified organic producers and producers who have applied to become organic. This initiative is available through EQIP. Interested producers are encouraged to apply to their local field office by March 12, 2010 to be considered for 2010 funding. Applications received after this date will be considered for the next round of funding in 2011.

The following document requires Acrobat Reader.
Vermont EQIP 2010 Organic Initiative Fact Sheet
NRCS-CPA-1200 Application Form and NRCS-CPA-1202 Conservation Program Contract Appendix
Self Certification for Transitioning Applicants (required to be completed and submitted with your application if you are applying as a producer who is transitioning to organic production)

For certified organic producers, in order to qualify for EQIP Organic Initiative assistance, applicants must submit a copy of their current Organic System Plan (OSP). NRCS will use the OSP as the basis of the EQIP Plan of Operations. Applicants must also provide the name and contact information of the USDA accredited certifying agent who certified the operation. Applications that don't include this information will be deferred to the next funding cycle until the required information has been provided.