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Ida 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 Ida County resource concerns to be addressed by EQIP:

  • Water Quality - Excessive Nutrients and Organics in Surface Water and Ground Water.

  • Water Quality – Excessive Sediment and Turbidity in Surface Water

  • Water Quantity – Excessive Runoff, Flooding or Ponding

  • Soil Erosion - Sheet and Rill; Ephemeral and Classic Gully; Stream Bank

  • Soil Condition-Organic matter depletion; Compaction; Animal waste contamination and other organics (N,P,K)

  • Plant Condition - Productivity, Health, and Vigor; Forage quality and palatability

  • Fish & Wildlife - Inadequate Cover/Shelter

  • Domestic Animals:  Inadequate quantities and quality of feed and forage, Inadequate Stock Water and Inadequate Shelter

  • Air Quality - Objectionable odors

These resource concerns address the following National EQIP priorities:

  • Reduction of non-point source pollution, such as nutrients, sediment, pesticides, or excess salinity in impaired watersheds consistent with Total Maximum Daily (TMDLs), where available, as well  as the reduction of groundwater contamination and reduction of point sources such as contamination from confined animal feeding operations.

  • Conservation of ground and surface water resources.

  • Reduction of emissions, such as particulate matter, nitrogen oxides (NOx), volatile organic compounds, and ozone precursors and depleters that contribute to air quality impairment violations of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards.

  • Reduction in soil erosion and sedimentation from unacceptable high levels on agricultural land.

  • Promotion of at-risk species habitat conservation.

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 and priorities as listed on the Ranking Worksheet. The ranking will be completed for the specific practices to be applied through the EQIP contract. 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.

Funded applications will result in a contract that lists the practices to be applied along with an application schedule and the funds obligated for each practice. Practice design and implementation are subject to NRCS technical standards. Producers may elect to use a Technical Service Provider, if available, for assistance. All conservation practices have a design life which may be longer than the EQIP contract period. The applicant will be responsible for maintenance and operation for the service life of each practice.

Farmers qualifying as Limited Resource Farmers receive a higher payment rate for vegetative and structural practices. Funds may be leveraged with other available cost share programs.

For more information on EQIP and other NRCS administrated programs, contact the Ida County USDA Service Center located at 5973 State Highway 175, P.O. Box 237, Ida Grove, Iowa  51445. Phone (712) 364-2124. Fax (712) 364-4173.

The following files require Acrobat Reader.

EQIP Practice List - 2008    New!
EQIP Application Ranking - 2008    New!
EQIP Nutrient Management Intensity Options - 2008    New!

 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 Practice List - 2006    For Archival Purposes Only
EQIP Application Ranking - 2006    For Archival Purposes Only
EQIP Nutrient Management Intensity Options - 2006    For Archival Purposes Only

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