Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)

Environmental Quality Environmental Quality Incentives ProgramIncentives Program

(EQIP)(EQIP)Grazing – Our Most Commonly Used Grazing – Our Most Commonly Used

Conservation PracticesConservation Practices

GrazingEQIP…EQIP… Available since 1996Available since 1996 Program has grown--popularity & fundingProgram has grown--popularity & funding Remains NRCS’ principal program—FA Remains NRCS’ principal program—FA

& CTA--for private landowners& CTA--for private landowners

GrazingEQIP supports needs EQIP supports needs of agricultural operations with of agricultural operations with or without livestock, offering or without livestock, offering ideas, solutions, & guidance ideas, solutions, & guidance for successful, for successful, sustainable sustainable conservation conservation operationsoperations

GrazingPractices described & shownPractices described & showncan be selected & installed can be selected & installed after developing a after developing a conservation planconservation plan designed to designed to address your address your specific resource specific resource concerns.concerns.

GrazingEQIP Applications…EQIP Applications… Taken ANY timeTaken ANY time Ranked to measure resource needs & Ranked to measure resource needs &

environmental benefits gainedenvironmental benefits gained Not all can be acceptedNot all can be accepted Can be re-submittedCan be re-submitted

GrazingYour EQIP Contract…Your EQIP Contract… Contracting Procedures:Contracting Procedures:

““Application Phase”Application Phase” ““Contracting Phase”   Contracting Phase”   ““First 12 months of a contract”      First 12 months of a contract”      ““Contract reviews”Contract reviews”

  Timelines  Timelines  

GrazingPayments…Payments… Cannot be made until EQIP CONTRACT Cannot be made until EQIP CONTRACT

is developedis developed Contract obligations—yours & NRCS’—Contract obligations—yours & NRCS’—

must be metmust be met Activity/Progress must be made within Activity/Progress must be made within

12-months of contract12-months of contract

GrazingCNMP ‘101’CNMP ‘101’ Producer needs a CNMPProducer needs a CNMP What information do they need to have to get started?What information do they need to have to get started? What does a CNMP involve?What does a CNMP involve? Who would be doing it?   (probably a TSP, with a Who would be doing it?   (probably a TSP, with a

discussion of how this works)discussion of how this works) What practices will be recommended and how do they What practices will be recommended and how do they

address resource concerns?   What will be changed in address resource concerns?   What will be changed in the operation if the CNMP is implemented?  i.e. the operation if the CNMP is implemented?  i.e. changes in storage volumes, production capacity changes in storage volumes, production capacity changes, utilization of waste applied, etc.changes, utilization of waste applied, etc.

and so onand so on

Grazing

Illinois’Illinois’Most Common EQIP Most Common EQIP

Conservation PracticesConservation Practices

— — Grazing EQIP Grazing EQIP ——

GrazingFencingFencing May be applied where control is needed for:May be applied where control is needed for:

Animal or people movement,Animal or people movement, Wildlife movement,Wildlife movement, Livestock management,Livestock management,

&& Soil erosion potentialSoil erosion potential

with fence install on with fence install on steep slopes.steep slopes.

GrazingPipelinePipeline Deliver water from a source of supply Deliver water from a source of supply

to points of use for livestockto points of use for livestock

GrazingPrescribed GrazingPrescribed Grazing Applied as part of a conservation Applied as part of a conservation

system:system: Improves or maintainsImproves or maintains

health & vigor ofhealth & vigor ofkey species, key species,

Provides or maintains Provides or maintains food, food, cover & shelter cover & shelter

for animals of for animals of concern. concern.

GrazingStream CrossingStream Crossing A stabilized area or structure A stabilized area or structure

constructed across streams:constructed across streams: Improves water quality,Improves water quality, Reduces streambank, Reduces streambank,

streambed erosion &streambed erosion & Provides access to Provides access to

other grazed lands--other grazed lands--people, stock, people, stock,

equipment.equipment.

Grazing

Upland Wildlife Upland Wildlife Habitat ManagementHabitat Management

Provides treatment of upland wildlife Provides treatment of upland wildlife habitat concerns:habitat concerns: Landowner identifies objective for Landowner identifies objective for

conserving wild animalconserving wild animalspecies &species &

Targets wildlife speciesTargets wildlife species Enhances shelter, Enhances shelter,

cover, cover, & food.& food.

GrazingAccess RoadAccess Road A travel-way for equipment & vehiclesA travel-way for equipment & vehicles Protects soil, air, fish, wildlife resourcesProtects soil, air, fish, wildlife resources

GrazingBrush ManagementBrush Management Includes removal, reduction, or Includes removal, reduction, or

manipulation of non-herbaceous plants:manipulation of non-herbaceous plants: Manages noxious/Manages noxious/ invasive invasive

woody plants,woody plants, Restore desired vegetativeRestore desired vegetative

cover & foragecover & forage Protect soils, life & propertyProtect soils, life & property

from wildfire hazards.from wildfire hazards.

Grazing

Heavy Use Heavy Use Area ProtectionArea Protection

Stabilizes frequently, intensively Stabilizes frequently, intensively used livestock areas:used livestock areas: Reduces soil erosionReduces soil erosion Improves livestockImproves livestock

health.health.

GrazingWatering FacilityWatering Facility Provides access to water for livestockProvides access to water for livestock

Protects & enhances vegetative coverProtects & enhances vegetative cover Controls erosion, &Controls erosion, & Protects streams &Protects streams &

pondsponds..

Grazing

Windbreak/Shelterbelt Windbreak/Shelterbelt EstablishmentEstablishment

Linear plantings of single or multiple Linear plantings of single or multiple rows of trees or shrubsrows of trees or shrubs Improves air quality, reduces wind erosionImproves air quality, reduces wind erosion Serve as living noise screens, &Serve as living noise screens, & Offer shelter Offer shelter

for livestock.for livestock.

GrazingConservation PracticesConservation Practices Most common shownMost common shown Other practices availableOther practices available Support land, resource needs, objectivesSupport land, resource needs, objectives Pick those that fit your operation & your Pick those that fit your operation & your

budget!budget!

GrazingProgramsPrograms Other NRCS programs may suit your Other NRCS programs may suit your

needs, your land betterneeds, your land better CSPCSP WRPWRP WHIPWHIP

Visit Visit www.il.nrcs.usda.govwww.il.nrcs.usda.gov Make appointment w/ District Make appointment w/ District

Conservationist today!Conservationist today!

Grazing

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Helping People Help the LandHelping People Help the Land

Thank You!Thank You!