Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)

Definitions
Source: Department of Agriculture. Commodity Credit Corporation. 7 CFR Part 1466.

Animal Feeding Operation: Lot or facility where animals have been, are, or will be stabled or confined and fed or maintained for a total of 45 days or more in any 12 month period, AND where crops, vegetation forage growth, or post-harvest residues are not sustained over any portion of the lot or facility in the normal growing season.

Applicant: An individual, entity or joint operation who has an interest in a farming operation, as defined in 7 CFR 1400.3, who has requested in writing to participate in EQIP.

Beginning Farmer/Rancher:  an individual or entity who:
The following definition for Beginning Farmer is current as of February 20, 2003. Any changes to these definitions will be passed on to the user.

1. Has not operated a farm or ranch, or who has operated a farm or ranch for not more than consecutive 10 years.  This requirement applies to all members of an entity, and
2. Will materially and substantially participate in the operation of the farm or ranch.

   (1)  In the case of an EQIP contract with an individual, individually or with the immediate family, material and substantial participation requires that the individual provide substantial day-to-day labor and  management of the farm or ranch, consistent with the practices in the county or State where the farm is located

   (2)  In the case of a contract made to an entity, all members must materially and substantially participate in the operation of the farm or ranch. Material and substantial participation requires that the members provide some amount of the management, or labor and management necessary for day-to-day activities, such that if the members did not provide these inputs, operation of the farm or ranch would be seriously impaired.

Certified Livestock Manager: A person that has been duly certified by the Illinois Department of Agriculture as an operator of a livestock waste handling facility. Supervision by a certified livestock manager is required at livestock waste handling facilities with 300 or more animal units. Managers of facilities with more than 300 animal units but less than 1,000 must either attend an approved training course or pass a proficiency exam. Supervisors of facilities with 1,000 animal units or more must have attended the approved training and passed the state proficiency exam. See Subpart I at:

The following web address requires Adobe Acrobat Reader 5.0 or higher (FREE software).
http://www.agr.state.il.us/pdf/lmfa.pdf. (PDF)

Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan (CNMP): A conservation system that is unique to an animal feeding operation (AFO). A CNMP is a grouping of conservation practices and management activities which, when implemented as part of a conservation system, will help to ensure that both production and natural resource protection goals are achieved. A CNMP incorporates practices to use animal manure and organic by-products as a beneficial resource. A CNMP addresses natural resource concerns dealing with soil erosion, manure, and organic by-products and their potential impacts on all natural resources including water and air quality, which may derive from an AFO. A CNMP is developed to assist an AFO owner/operator in meeting all applicable local, Tribal, State, and Federal water quality goals or regulations. For nutrient impaired stream segments or water bodies, additional management activities or conservation practices may be required by local, Tribal, State, or Federal water quality goals or regulations.

Cost-Share Payment: The financial assistance from NRCS to the participant to share the cost of installing a structural conservation practice.

Eligible Land: Includes cropland, rangeland, pasture, private nonindustrial forestland, and other farm and ranch lands as determined by the Secretary of Agriculture.

Flash Grazing: A very limited grazing regime, usually not more than a couple days depending on the size of the riparian area and type, class and size of animals. There is not a single prescription for grazing riparian areas; each area requires evaluation and specific recommendations that consider the following:

• Limit grazing intensity and season of use to provide sufficient rest to encourage plant vigor, regrowth and energy storage;
• Ensure sufficient vegetation during periods of high flow to protect streambanks, dissipate energy, and trap sediments;
• Control the timing of grazing to prevent damage to streambanks when they are most vulnerable to trampling; and
• Graze at times when livestock damage to streambanks and vegetation is minimized.

Incentive payment: The financial assistance from NRCS to the participant in an amount and at a rate determined appropriate to encourage the participant to perform a land management practice that would not otherwise be initiated without program assistance.

Limited Resource Farmer:
The following definition for Limited Resource Farmer is current as of February 20, 2003. Any changes to these definitions will be passed on to the user.

1. An individual, directly or indirectly, with gross farm sales not more than $100,000, and

2. Has a total household income at or below poverty level for a family of four, or less than 50% of county median household income, in each of the previous two years. (Data Table)

Local Work Group: Representatives of local offices of FSA, the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service, the conservation district, and other Federal, State, and local government agencies, including Tribes, with expertise in natural resources who advise NRCS on decisions related to EQIP implementation.

Producer: An individual or entity who is engaged in livestock or agricultural production.

State Technical Committee: An entity authorized under law to provide advice to the NRCS State conservationist on implementation of conservation programs.

The membership of the State Technical Committee includes representatives of Federal, State and local governmental agencies; Tribes; non-government organizations; conservation districts; business; agricultural producers; and individuals interested in natural resource conservation with expertise in soil, water, wetland, and wildlife management.

Stockpiled Forages: A practice of allowing plant growth to accumulate in the field--generally in the fall-- for grazing during the late fall and winter. The forage that is most commonly stockpiled is Tall Fescue, but others are also used. Stockpiled forages can be either annuals or perennials, grasses, legumes, brassicas (turnips, etc.), maize (corn) or millet stockpiled for summer use. In general, stockpiled forages are grazed prior to reaching physiological maturity and are best used in vegetative stage.

Technical assistance: The personnel and support resources needed to: (1) conduct conservation planning; conservation practice survey, layout, design, installation, and certification; (2) training, certification, and quality assurance of professional conservationists; and (3) evaluation and assessment of the producer’s operation and maintenance needs.

Technical Service Provider: An individual, private-sector entity, or public agency certified by NRCS to provide technical services to program participants or to NRCS.