NRCS announces EQIP deadlines for applications

USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service announced the application deadlines for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program in Washington will be earlier this year to account for a stronger focus on conservation planning.

The voluntary, technical and financial assistance program is designed to help 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, program participants pay for roughly half of the costs of the conservation measures or practices.

Producers and entities will have two cut-off dates to submit their applications for consideration for funding in fiscal year 2018. The dates are Nov. 17, and March 16, 2018.

The cut-off dates are for general Local Working Group funding as well as the Initiatives such as Organic, High Tunnel, Conservation Activity Plans, Energy, Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plans (CNMP), Wildfire Recovery, Joint Chiefs, Air Quality, and Sage Grouse Initiatives. For more information about these Initiatives, refer to the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service website.

Jeff Harlow, assistant state conservationist, stated those interested in applying for 2018 funding, must submit an application at the USDA-NRCS service center by one of the two deadlines.