Natural Resources
Conservation Service
316 W. Boone, Suite 450
Spokane, WA 99201
509-323-2900
Email: gina.kerzman@wa.usda.gov
Web: http://www.wa.nrcs.usda.gov
Release No.: 10.21.14
Jeff Harlow,
Assistant State Conservationist for Programs
509/323-2971
Application sign-up cut-off date for EQIP statewide initiatives
set for November 21, 2014
SPOKANE, Wash. (October 21, 2014) – November 21st is the application sign-up cut-off date
for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation
Service announced today.
The Environmental Quality Incentives Program is a voluntary, technical and financial assistance
program designed to help farmers improve irrigation efficiency; manage nutrient run-off and/or
animal waste; improve the health of native plant communities; and reduce soil loss. In most instances,
producers who participate in the program pay for roughly half of the costs of the conservation
measures or practices.
Eligible producers and entities interested in applying for financial assistance through the EQIP
program will have until November 21 to submit their applications for consideration this fiscal
year.
The funding options are:
EQIP Local Working Group Pool: Conservation funding is available statewide with identified
local resource concerns identified by specified geographic areas within the state. Local working
groups are made up of one or more counties.
Organic Initiative: Conservation funding is available to organic producers and those
transitioning to organic production in Washington. Through the EQIP Organic Initiative signup,
farmers, ranchers and dairy operators may apply for financial and technical assistance to plan
and install conservation measures such as buffer strips, conservation crop rotation, cover crops,
field borders, mulching, nutrient management, pest management, residue management, and
more.
EQIP High Tunnel Initiative: Through the EQIP Seasonal High Tunnel Initiative signup,
agricultural producers may apply for financial and technical assistance to plan and install
Seasonal High Tunnels and other conservation practices to facilitate an extended growing season
and improve soil health.
EQIP Energy Initiative: The EQIP Energy Initiative is intended to assist producers in
conserving energy on their farms through an Agriculture Energy Management Plan (AgEMPs),
also known as on-farm energy audits and provide assistance to implement various recommended
measures identified in the energy audit.
EQIP Sage Grouse Initiative: Ranchers in parts of central and eastern Washington are being
offered payments through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) to help protect
sage grouse habitat and improve range conditions for their livestock.
According to Assistant State Conservationist, Jeff Harlow, “while all of these options are offered
on a continuous sign up basis, if you’re interested in applying for 2015 funding, make sure to
turn in your application at your local USDA-NRCS service center office before the November
21st deadline.”
While NRCS programs operate on a year-round signup basis, and producers can file applications at
any time, periodic ranking deadlines are established so applications on file at that time can be
evaluated for the next available funding allocation.
Applicants who are entities must provide a DUNS number, be registered in the System for
Award Management (SAM), and maintain an active registration with current information prior to
applying for funding and to remain eligible for payments under a funded contract. For more
information regarding SAM and DUNS, or if interested in applying for EQIP funding, contact
the local NRCS field office or visit the NRCS Washington web site at: www.wa.nrcs.usda.gov,
and click on the “programs” tab.
To learn about technical and financial assistance available through conservation programs, visit
www.nrcs.usda.gov/GetStarted or a local USDA service center.
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