Farm Bill: EQIP

The Environmental Quality Incentives Program provides technical and financial assistance to active farmers and ranchers to address natural resource concerns such as soil conservation, water quality, nutrient management, and fish and wildlife habitat. Funding has expanded under the 2002 Farm bill, with the amount of annual funding authorized reaching $1.3 billion by FY07. The NRCS is beginning to use EQIP to address the needs of declining and other at-risk fish and wildlife species – but little research has yet been done to document fish and wildlife response to the program.

NRCS has also begun using EQIP to address the issue of invasive species, which in some areas is the primary limiting factor for fish and wildlife populations. In addition, EQIP is being increasingly used to address threatened and endangered species needs. For example, in response to congressional language encouraging USDA to enhance its efforts for Greater Sage-Grouse conservation, the NRCS made $2 million of EQIP funds available for projects that address habitat needs.

**The Kind bill expands the program from its current $1.3 billion to $2 billion. The bill also creates a new subprogram to reward the stewardship of small, private forest lands.