Vermont EQIP Program Information

EQIP 2008 Process Overview

Vermont NRCS is administering a statewide EQIP program in 2008. Ranking procedures and eligible practice lists will be consistent statewide. EQIP offers contracts for practice implementation ranging from 1 year to a maximum of 10 years in length. The minimum contract length is 1 year after certified completion of the final cost-shared practice.  Typical contracts provide payments for implementing eligible conservation practices, based on a per unit rate of installing the practice. 

Environmental Quality Incentives Program Funding Priorities for FY 2008

In VT, the 2008 annual EQIP allocation will be split into two categories:  90% is targeted to address livestock related resource concerns, and 10% is targeted to non-livestock related resource concerns.  Within each of the two categories, funds will be allocated to the following:

Livestock Producers may apply to one of three separate funding pools:

• Structural – This pool will receive 65% of the total allocation, and is reserved for farms that need improvements to barnyards and/or waste storage facilities to mitigate existing water quality related resource concerns.  Successful applicants must agree to implement a Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan (CNMP) that addresses how manure and other livestock wastes are handled, stored and used on the farm.  All barnyard and field practices are eligible for cost share in this pool. 

• Progressive – This pool will receive 10% of the total allocation, and is reserved for farms that need to develop a plan for waste management (i.e., the CNMP), but are not yet ready to fully implement the plan.  Waste storage facilities and heavy use areas (paved barnyards) are NOT eligible for funding in this pool, but most other barnyard and field practices are eligible. 

• Non-Structural – This pool will receive 15% of the total allocation, and is reserved for livestock farms that want and need to address non-barnyard related issues, such as improved grazing systems, erosion control on cropland, pasture and hayland planting, etc.  Farms transitioning to organic that do not need barnyard improvements will be eligible for funding in this category.

Non-livestock Producers may apply to one of two separate funding pools:

• Forestry – A total of $100,000 will be set aside to help forest landowners offset the cost of basic erosion control, water quality, wildlife habitat and pest management practices. 

• Non-livestock/non-forestry – This pool is reserved for non-livestock- based farming operations, such as, but not limited to, fruit and vegetable operations, vineyards, nurseries, and other specialty crops.  This pool will receive a total of 10% of the allocation, minus $100,000 for forest landowners.  Typical livestock waste management practices are not available for cost share in this funding pool, but most other practices are, such as compost facilities, nutrient and pest management, erosion control, wildlife management practices, and improvements to existing irrigation systems (an overall reduction in water use is required). 

To ensure parity to all farms, regardless of size or ability to pay, the highest ranked application from a Limited Resource Producer (see definition at http://www.lrftool.sc.egov.usda.gov/) in each category will be granted an extra 200 points in the ranking.

Leftover Funds not used in any single category will be transferred to the Livestock Structural Pool.

2008 EQIP Eligible Practices and Practice Payment Rates By Funding Pool

A list of approved conservation practices for 2008 EQIP can be viewed by clicking on the following links:

Application Process

Electronic application filing for EQIP is available through the Electronic Government website.

In addition, applications for EQIP are accepted continuously at local USDA Service Centers.

For more local EQIP information contact your Local NRCS Office.

An EQIP application cut-off date has been set for all Vermont applicants. The cut-off date is October 1, 2007.  All applications submitted by the cut-off date will be processed and ranked for environmental resource protection. Any applications submitted after the announced cut-off date will be processed during the next subsequent EQIP ranking process or during Fiscal Year 2009.  A supplemental 2008 fiscal year signup period may be announced if program funds remain available after the initial applications have been processed.

Participants must complete and sign all necessary forms including the NRCS-CPA-1200 (the official application form) prior to the end of the ranking period. It is important that all applicants read and understand the NRCS-CPC 1202 Appendix.  Cost-share eligibility is contingent upon the producer not starting the conservation practice(s) to be included in the EQIP contract prior to having an approved EQIP contract signed by the appropriate NRCS approving official.

Program Eligibility

The Natural Resources Conservation Service is responsible for determining applicant eligibility and land eligibility for EQIP. Applicant and land eligibility determinations will be completed prior to ranking of applications.

More information on Program Eligibility is available from the EQIP web page on the NRCS National Website. 

Top of page

Statewide Ranking Process, Pre-screening of Applications    

Application ranking criteria, application pre-screening process and eligible practices and practice cost share rates have been established in consultation with the Vermont State Technical Committee, local workgroups, state agencies, and other partners.

Applicants or entities who are currently out of compliance with any EQIP contract will not be ranked.

Vermont NRCS anticipates far more requests for assistance than availability of EQIP program financial assistance dollars.  In response to this situation, a pre-screening process will be used in 2008 to help NRCS staff prioritize the sequence of application ranking. The following documents provide more information on Vermont's 2008 EQIP priorities.

The following documents require Adobe Acrobat

2008 EQIP Prescreening Bulletin (21 KB)
2008 EQIP Significant Contributor Definition (12 KB)
2008 EQIP Prescreening and Local Work Group Worksheet (for informational purposes only - this document is to be completed by NRCS) (60 KB)
2008 EQIP Timeline (38KB) NEW!

Top of page

Top of page

Contracting and Technical Assistance                                    

If accepted for an EQIP contract, applicants will develop a conservation plan (if they don't already have one) for the acreage affected by the EQIP practices. The conservation plan (EQIP Plan Of Operations) will become the basis for the EQIP contract. All contracted conservation practices must meet NRCS technical standards in order to be eligible to receive the contract payment. Applicants may elect to use NRCS staff for technical assistance, or use an approved Technical Service Provider, if available, for technical assistance.

A list of Technical Service Providers for your area can be accessed at the Technical Service Providers Registration (http://techreg.usda.gov/) web site.   

All EQIP contracts which include Waste Storage Facility, Heavy Use Area Protection, or associated waste management structural practices will require development and implementation of a Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan (CNMP).

Links to Other Useful Documents for the 2008 EQIP Program

• Field Office Technical Guide (Click on Vermont)
• Conservation Practice Component Average Cost Data

Contact

Vicky Drew
Phone: 802-951-6796 x-242
Email: vicky.drew@vt.usda.gov

< Back to Environmental Quality Incentives Program