Maryland 2006 State EQIP Sign-Up and Application Information

Last Modified: 05/13/2008

EQIP objectives, as stated in the 2002 Farm Bill, are to promote agricultural production and environmental quality as compatible national goals, and to optimize environmental benefits. EQIP provides assistance to producers to install and maintain conservation practices that enhance soil, water, and related natural resources, while sustaining production of food and fiber. EQIP assists producers to make beneficial, cost effective changes to cropping systems, grazing management systems; waste management systems associated with livestock, and other practices on agricultural land.

Individuals or entities engaged in the production of crops or livestock on eligible land may participate in the EQIP program.  EQIP offers contracts that provide incentive payments and cost-sharing to implement conservation practices. EQIP contracts have a minimum contract length of one year after the last scheduled practice is completed.  The maximum contract length is 10 years. EQIP activities are carried out according to a conservation plan and schedule that NRCS develops with the participant.  This plan identifies the appropriate conservation practice (or practices) that will address identified resource concerns and provide environmental benefits.  The participant agrees to implement practices as scheduled in the contract and according to Maryland NRCS conservation practice standards and designs.

For 2006, a total of $6,057,344 are available for financial assistance in Maryland.  There will be at least two funding periods.  Applications received on or before January 20, 2006, will compete in the first round.  Applications not funded in the first round and newer applications, if received by February 24, 2006, will compete in the second round.  If necessary, a third round will occur, but EQIP history in Maryland suggests that all monies will be committed following the second funding period.

A number of application pools exist.  They include:

• Livestock-related Agriculture (animal waste management, grazing land management, and poultry house windbreaks)
• Biodiversity and Forest Management
• Erosion Control and Crop Management
• Irrigation Water Management

Additional pools include those that emphasize the development of Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plans (CNMP), Prescribed Grazing Plans, and Forest Management (Stewardship) Plans. A cover crop early planting bonus pool also exists.  In the five southern Maryland counties (Anne Arundel, Calvert, Charles, Prince George’s, and St. Mary’s), there is a pilot effort to encourage implementation of conservation crop rotation and no-till agriculture to improve soil quality.

Applications will be evaluated on a regional watershed basis.  The regions include the following county groups:

• Western Maryland:  Allegany, Garrett, and Washington Counties
• Central Maryland:  Baltimore, Carroll, Frederick, Harford, Howard, and Montgomery Counties
• Southern Maryland:  Anne Arundel, Calvert, Charles, Prince George’s, and St. Mary’s Counties
• Upper Shore:  Cecil, Kent, Queen Anne’s, and Talbot Counties
• Lower Shore:  Caroline, Dorchester, Somerset, Wicomico, and Worcester Counties

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

The following documents require Adobe Acrobat or Microsoft Excel.

CCC-1200 Conservation Program Application/Contract (PDF; 28 KB)
Appendix to Form CCC-1200 Environmental Quality Incentives Program Contract (PDF; 24 KB)
2006 EQIP Ranking Workbook REVISED (XLS; 817 KB)
2006 EQIP List of Practices, Cost Share Rates, and Incentive Payments (PDF; 54 KB)
2006 Tiered Nutrient Management Checklist (PDF; 178 KB)
2006 Tiered Pest Management Checklist (PDF; 129 KB)
2006 Irrigation Worksheet (PDF; 36 KB)
2006 Soil Quality Improvement Checklist (PDF; 35 KB)
2006 Maryland EQIP Handbook (PDF; 597 KB)
Conservation Programs Manual, Part 515 - EQIP (October 2004) (PDF; 694 KB)