Maryland 2005 State EQIP Sign-Up and Application Information

Last Modified: 05/13/2008

Printable map (602 KB)

DISCLAIMER:  The information currently available on this and linked sites may not be the final version of the ranking, application, or conservation practice documents.   Please check with your local NRCS office or check back on this site to ensure that the documents that you use to make a final decision are not a draft version of the ranking, application, and conservation practice worksheets.

General Program Description

The Environmental Quality Incentives Program Sign-ups are now underway. Applications received on or before March 25, 2005 will be grouped and ranked for 2005 funding. Two application pools exist. One is statewide with statewide competition, while the other is countywide with countywide competition.

For 2005, a statewide sign-up and evaluation will occur for certain practices.  The practices include; animal waste storage, including waste storage facilities, lagoons, roof runoff and contributing watershed management (as it relates to managing animal waste), all other Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan (CNMP) components, heavy use area protection (when planned in conjunction with waste storage facilities), composting facilities for manure (if it is a component of waste storage and of the CNMP), and closure of waste impoundments, when they are no longer used for their intended purpose and when they impair surface and/or groundwater. 

The same EQIP cost-sharing on systems and practices relating to cropland (including irrigation system upgrades), hayland, forest land, and farmstead/headquarters will be offered on a county-by-county basis.  Each county has the ability to determine what percentage of their allocation will be devoted to each of the land use categories.

EQIP offers contracts with a minimum term that ends one year after the implementation of the last scheduled practices to a maximum term of ten years.  These contracts provide incentive payments and cost-sharing to implement conservation practices.  Persons who are engaged in livestock or agricultural production on eligible land may participate in the EQIP program.  EQIP activities are carried out according to a plan of operations developed in conjunction with the producer that identifies the appropriate conservation practice or practices to address the resource concerns.  The practices and incentives are subject to NRCS technical standards adapted for local conditions.  The local soil conservation district approves the plan.

EQIP incentive payments may be provided for up to three years to encourage producers to carry out management practices they may not otherwise use.  However, limited resource producers and beginning farmers and ranchers may be eligible for higher cost-share rates.  All farmers and ranchers may elect to use a certified technical service provider for technical assistance.  An individual or entity may not receive, directly or indirectly, cost-share or incentive payments that, in the aggregate, exceed $450,000 for all EQIP contracts entered during the term of the Farm Bill.

2005 EQIP General Program Description Documents

• How EQIP in Maryland Works
• Developing an EQIP contract

EQIP Conservation Practice, Sign-Up, Ranking Documents and Planning Guides

The following documents require Adobe Acrobat or Microsoft Excel.

CCC-1200 Conservation Program Application/Contract (PDF; 132KB)
Appendix to Form CCC-1200 Environmental Quality Incentives Program Contract (PDF; 125KB)
2005 EQIP Workbook (PDF; 338 KB)
2005 EQIP Practice Code details (PDF; 190 KB)