Target your land strategies

Are you interested in controlling erosion and improving water quality on your farm and the streams that run through your farm?

If so, the USDA has developed the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) to assist landowners by providing cost share and incentive payments for those that are interested in implementing practices that improve water quality on their farms.

Under EQIP, landowners may apply for five to 10 year contracts. The application process is competitive and applications are ranked according to environmental benefits achieved per dollar spent.

All EQIP contracts require a conservation plan. Each conservation is farm specific and addressees each individual farm’s specific water quality issues. The following table lists conservation practices included in an EQIP plan, and cost share and or incentive payments for implementation of each practice.

EQIP is a federal program and is available to landowners nationwide, but the incentives described above are specifically tailored for the Six Creeks Priority Area. The priority area includes the Grindstone, Lost, Muddy, Marrowbone, Honey, and Dog Creek watershed area. This watershed is located in parts of Caldwell, Clinton, Daviess, DeKalb, and Gentry counties. The priority area was established because of water quality concerns related to agriculture runoff into area city water reservoirs. There has been $72,000 set aside for landowners in this area.

This year’s sign up period runs through March 18. If you are interested in EQIP or would like more information on the program, contact your local USDA service center.