The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) has a budget of $1.3 billion of $200 million/ year (authorized by the federal government) to help farmers and ranchers deal with serious threats to soil and water related to natural resource problems. 65% of the funding will be oriented to priority areas (watersheds or other sensitive areas) identified by the states and the budget is to be split evenly between crop and livestock productions. The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) – EQIP’s monitoring agency – is confident this program is going to get result because of his local level aims.
In addition to priority areas, farmers and ranchers can create a conservation plan for their sites. On a 5 to 10 years contracts basis, if their plan is accepted they can receive up to $10 000/year for a maximum sum of $50 000/contract . Certain conservation practices such as grassed waterways, filter strips or manure management facilities can be cost shared to up to 75%.
The EQIP Funds should not go for large operations as demanded by the Congress, so the NRCS used the same rules as other federal and states programs and the admissible livestock operations should not exceed 1000 animal units. As the program should adjust to the local needs, states could argue for a different guideline. The National Pork Producers Council consider that this figure is restricting considering the new trends in swine production and is concerned about the distribution in priority watersheds. An NRCS employee will be working with the NPPC members to make sure the program is well understood and used on different environmental projects.
The program will adjust as people at local level get engaged and states cooperate, and as the resources priorities get defined.
//This project is very interesting however no mention on education is made. Often to integrate new techniques and practices and education becomes. Education can also trigger other initiatives that may not be funded by the EQIP and produce important changes were big money is not involved.