Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)

Eligible EQIP Conservation Practices in Illinois

Cost Share Conservation Practices Available through EQIP
   Applications Not Related to Livestock in Illinois
   Confined Livestock Operation Applications
   Grazing Land Applications
   Special Projects
       Forest Management Plans
       Spoon River Streambank Stabilization
   Ground and Surface Water Conservation (GSWC)
       Drainage Water Management
       Irrigation Water management

Application Information

NRCS in Illinois worked with the State Technical Committee to identify which conservation practices are eligible for EQIP cost-share and incentive payment assistance. Local work groups assisted in identifying practices to treat the locally identified resource concerns.

EQIP applicants who rank high enough to be selected for the program must have an approved plan for the conservation practices they will implement. All practices must be implemented in conformance to NRCS standards and specifications.

A cost-share practice must be started within 12 months of contract obligation by the NRCS Approving Official. Once begun, the producer is expected to make continuous progress towards implementation. Failure to commence a practice within 12 months of contract approval will result in contract termination unless circumstances beyond the producer’s control prevented starting the practice.

The following tables describe the conservation practices that are eligible for EQIP in Illinois and the rate of cost-share and incentive payments.

Conservation Practices Available through EQIP
Cost Share and Incentive Payments

Applications Not Related to Livestock in Illinois

• Practices needed to address an RMS level of treatment for the potential EQIP contract, but are not found in the list below, can be included in the application as long as they are listed in the current electronic Field Office Technical Guide (e-FOTG), located at the following address: http:/efotg.nrcs.usda.gov/efotg, and approval has been received from the Area Office.
• For all practices, cost share will be at 60% or 70% of the statewide average cost.
• Cost share rates for Limited Resource Farmer are 75% for all practices, up to 10% of the EQIP allocation. Details explaining a Limited Resource Farmer and the "Self-Determination Tool" can be found at the following web address: http://www.lrftool.sc.egov.usda.gov 

Notes for Applications Not Related to Livestock:

Notes:
1. Incentive payments will be allowed on a maximum of 400 acres.
Limited Resource Farmers will receive a flat rate of $12.50 per acre up to 400 acres.

2. Incentive payments will be allowed on a maximum of 400 acres.
Limited Resource Farmers will receive a flat rate of $18.75 per acre up to 400 acres.

3. The payment for nutrient management will be scheduled for the year the new or revised nutrient management plan is fully implemented (i.e. the nutrient management has been carried out over the entire crop rotation cycle).

4. Residue management will only be paid the years the no-till/strip-till practice is applied as a new management practice. (i.e. no-till soybeans have already been adopted as a management practice, but no-till corn has not been adopted.. The years of the contract where no-till corn is applied will be the years residue management is paid).

5. The incentive payment for nutrient management may be paid for up to3 years not to exceed 400 acres per farming operation in any given year (as defined in note 7, below), totaled over all of the EQIP contracts for the years that the 2002 Farm Bill is in effect. The nutrient management incentive is for owners/operators that are making a “positive environmental change” in their nutrient management plan.

6. The incentive payment for residue management may be paid for up to 3 years not to exceed 400 acres per farming operation in any given year (as defined in note 7, below), totaled over all of the EQIP contracts for the years that the 2002 Farm Bill is in effect. The residue management incentive is for owners/operators that have not yet adopted the no-till or strip till on any of the land they control.

7. Incentive payments are intended to provide financial assistance to producers to try a management practice for the first time, with the idea that once they try the practice, they will realize that continuing to apply the practice(s) makes financial and environmental sense. Therefore, the incentive payment is limited to a set number of acres per farming operation. “Farming Operation” is defined as all of the ground over which the producer has control of the farming decisions. If a producer farms some ground by himself, and some with a partner, all of that land is added together to define his farming operation, since he shares in the decision-making for all of the land. If the same producer also farms some land owned by someone else, and does not make decisions on how that land is to be managed, that land is to be considered as a separate farming operation for purposes of determining eligibility for the incentive payment, to help the producer convince the landowner that the new management practice is worth a try.
 

Confined Livestock Operation Applications

• For all practices, cost share will be at 40, 50%, 60%, 70%, or 75% of the statewide average cost.
• Cost share rates for Limited Resource Farmers are 75% for all practices, up to 10% of the EQIP allocation. Details explaining a Limited Resource Farmer and the "Self-Determination Tool" can be found at the following web address: http://www.lrftool.sc.egov.usda.gov
• Practices needed to address an RMS level of treatment for the potential EQIP contract, but are not found in the list below, can be included in the application as long as they are listed in the current electronic Field Office Technical Guide (e-FOTG), located at the following address: http:/efotg.nrcs.usda.gov/efotg, and approval has been received from the Area Office.

Notes to Confined Livestock Operations:

1. “Sites” are where waste storage and handling components are interconnected.

2. Limited resource farmers will receive 75% cost share up to $150,000 for each site.

3. Applicants eligible for CNMP incentive, are those that meet the definition of an AFO according to 40CFR Part 122. Applicants receiving cost share money for waste storage and handling practices are not eligible for the CNMP incentive.

4. $2000 ($1200 cost share) maximum per pump and appurtenances, $25/foot maximum for well drilling and casing. LRF will receive 75% cost share not to exceed $1500 for pumps and appurtenances, $31.25/foot for well drilling and casing.

5. Cost share for ponds is allowed when no other water source is available or feasible for livestock water (documentation and justification is required).

6. Incentive payment will allowed up to 3 years. Limited resource farmers will receive a Flat Rate of $12.50/acre.

7. NRCS will allow for the cost share of concrete and excavation for pits under buildings at a 40% rate. LRF will receive 75% cost share. The pit must be designed by a Licensed Private Engineer; the pit will not be designed by NRCS. NRCS will pay for the portion of the pit needed to adequately hold the manure. NRCS will not pay for any structures put on top of the pit; buildings ,etc. (slats needed for the structural support of the pit can be cost shared as long as they meet NRCS Standards and Specifications). Structures on top of the pit; however, are allowed at the contract holder’s expense. The pit, and slats needed for structural support, will be cost shared as concrete and excavation components. No Technical Assistance costs will be cost shared for the design of the pit.

8. Cost share on grazing practices such as fencing, water pipelines and water wells for Confined Livestock contracts is provided only when needed to implement a grazing system as a supplement to the CNMP. Refer to limitations listed with the practices for the Livestock Grazing Land Operations. Cost share is not provided for water use at the confinement facility itself.
 
9. Access road cost share is limited to one lane, not to exceed ¼ mile, for access to operate and maintain waste storage and handling facilities that are a part of the same contract.

10. Cost share is available for Anaerobic Digesters used for energy production (i.e., electric power or heat for buildings, etc.). Anaerobic digesters used for reasons other than energy production will be considered for cost share on a case by case basis. LRF will be cost shared at 75% not to exceed $375,000.

11. For applications which include practices such as manure transfer pipelines or waste utilization that are planned to be installed across or applied on land not under control of the applicant, the other landowner(s) must either be signatories to the contract or provide easement(s) allowing the EQIP applicant to cross the property. Any easement must identify the responsible party for operation and maintenance of any structural practices (such as pipeline) for the practice lifespan, and the easement is required prior to the ranking cutoff for the period in which the applicant is competing.

12. Waste facility covers must exclude precipitation and runoff from the stored manure, and/or capture methane gas. Total cost share for waste facility covers (including all appurtenances for capturing and/or flaring emissions) and waste storage structures together is limited to $100,000 per contract. Waste facility covers may be flexible, impermeable membranes or rigid covers (roofs). Cost share for waste facility covers will be allowed only for storage facilities that meet NRCS standards and specifications. Cost share will not be allowed on waste facility covers for facilities that also house livestock.
 

Grazing Land Applications

• For all practices, cost share will be at 50%, 60%,70% or 75% of the statewide average cost.
• Cost share rates for Limited Resource Farmers are 75% for all practices, up to 10% of the EQIP allocation. Details explaining a Limited Resource Farmer and "Self-Determination Tool" can be found at the following web address: http://www.lrftool.sc.egov.usda.gov
• Practices needed to address an RMS level of treatment for the potential EQIP contract, but are not found in the list below, can be included in the application as long as they are listed in the current electronic Field Office Technical Guide (e-FOTG) located at the following web address: http:/efotg.nrcs.usda.gov/efotg, and approval has been received from the Area Office.

Notes to Grazing Land:

1. Brush Management is allowed for noxious/invasive brush/woody species. Does not include clearing right-of-ways for fencing, roads, or access.

2. Limited Resource Farmers will receive 75% cost share up to $37,500 for each grazing operation.

3. Limited Resource Farmers will receive 75% cost share up to $75,000 for each grazing operation.

4. Fencing is allowed on acres included in the prescribed grazing plan. An agreement on property line fence location signed by the applicant and the neighboring landowner(s) is required, prior to ranking, in order to receive cost share dollar, for property line fences. Applicants will be responsible for providing the agreement(s) and for identifying all property line fences and ensuring that the property line fence(s) meet all state and local laws.

5. Cost share for ponds is allowed when no other water source is available or feasible for livestock water (ie, rural water supply is denied or cost is prohibitive.) Documentation and justification is required. Limited resource farmers will receive 75% cost share up to $7,500.

6. $2000 ($1200 maximum cost share) per pump and appurtenances, $25/foot maximum for well drilling and casing. LRF will receive 75% cost share not to exceed $1500 for pumps and appurtenances, $31.25/foot for well drilling and casing.

7. One water fountain per herd is allowed for cost share.

8. Access road cost share is limited to one lane, not to exceed ¼ mile, for access to operate and maintain waste storage and handling facilities that are a part of the same contract.

Notes to Drainage Water Management:

1. One Drainage Water Management incentive payment with a limit of $12,000 will be allowed per
individual or entity.

2. The Drainage Water Management Plan will meet the requirements outlined in Attachment B. The plan
must be approved by NRCS.

Notes to Irrigation Water Management:

1. One Irrigation Water Management incentive payment with a limit of $12,000 will be allowed per individual or entity.

2. The Irrigation Water Management Plan will meet the minimum requirements outlined in Attachment B. The plan must be approved by NRCS.
 

Application Information and Ranking Criteria Worksheets

For more information and guidance, contact your local NRCS office.