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Carroll County EQIP

The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) is a voluntary conservation program of the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) that promotes agricultural production and environmental quality. This program is available to farmers and offers financial and technical assistance to install or implement structural and management practices on eligible agricultural land.

The following are Carroll County resource concerns to be addressed by EQIP:

  • Soil Erosion – Sheet and rill
  • Soil Erosion – Ephemeral gully
  • Soil Erosion – Classic gully
  • Soil Erosion - Streambank
  • Water Quality – Excessive nutrients and organics in surface water
  • Water Quality – Excessive nutrients and organics in groundwater
  • Water Quality – Harmful levels of pathogens in surface water
  • Water Quality – Excessive suspended sediment and turbidity in surface water
  • Plant Condition - Forage quality and palatability
  • Plant Condition - Productivity, health, and vigor
  • Domestic Animals – Inadequate Stock Water
  • Domestic Animals – Inadequate quantities and quality of feed and forage.
  • Fish & Wildlife – Inadequate Cover/Shelter
  • Fish & Wildlife – T & E Species Promotion
  • Air Quality – Objectionable odors
  • Air Quality – Particulate Matter (PM 2.5, PM 10)
  • Soil Condition – Organic Matter Depletion

These resource concerns address the following National EQIP priorities:

  1. Reduction of non-point source pollution.
  2. Reduction in soil erosion and sedimentation from unacceptable high levels on agricultural land.

The goal of the locally led group was to recommend a ranking system that rewarded and gave priority to those producers that address the above resource concerns. Historically Underserved Producers will receive a higher payment rate for specific practices identified on the county practice list. These higher rates apply to the first $50,000. The local work group has decided to divide the county’s original EQIP allocation into 4 subaccounts; Soil Erosion 40%, Water Quality 20%, Plant/Grazing 20% and Brushy Creek Watershed 20%. If funds remain unobligated in any of these subaccounts prior to the conclusion of any fund obligation period, funds may be transferred between accounts. Sign-up is continuous at the NRCS field office. Application ranking will be done periodically as funding allocations become available, will be announced through the NRCS State Office, and will be publicized by all levels of NRCS. The NRCS may establish local, minimum ranking cut-off levels for funding selection.

The local work group also recommended a list of conservation practices that are the most cost-effective, longest duration and address these priority resource concerns in the district. Also, a priority has been made for practices located within the Brushy Creek Watershed of Carroll County.

For more information on EQIP and other NRCS administrated programs, contact the Carroll County USDA Service Center located at 1917 North US Highway 71, Carroll, IA  51401. Phone (712) 792-1212, Ext. 3. Fax (712) 792-5785.

The following files require Acrobat Reader.

EQIP Practice List - 2009
EQIP Application Ranking - 2009
EQIP Nutrient Management Intensity Options - 2009   

EQIP Practice List - 2008    For Archival Purposes Only
EQIP Application Ranking - 2008    For Archival Purposes Only
EQIP Nutrient Management Intensity Options - 2008    For Archival Purposes Only

 EQIP Practice List - 2007    For Archival Purposes Only
EQIP Application Ranking - 2007    For Archival Purposes Only
EQIP Nutrient Management Intensity Options - 2007    For Archival Purposes Only  
EQIP Pasture Management Intensity Options - 2007    For Archival Purposes Only

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