EQIP is funded through the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service and provides cost-share funding for farmers to start new conservation practices and projects. These could include:
Average award (national): $30K or $57/acre
Odds of application success (national): ~30%
Eligibility: farmers who have secured land (whether owned or rented) and currently have sales
Pros: free money and technical support from the USDA to implement projects that can improve your profitability
Cons: EQIP funding is not guaranteed by the government and includes a 3-12 month wait time on application decisions and project start
For historically underserved farmers: have you been farming for less than 10 years or are you a minority farmer? Learn how you can access higher payment rates and cash advance payments through EQIP.