Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP): Status and Issues

Publication Date: May 2007

Publisher: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Author(s):

Research Area: Environment

Type:

Abstract:

The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) provides farmers with financial and technical assistance to plan and implement soil and water conservation practices. EQIP was enacted in 1996 and amended by the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (Section 2301 of P.L. 107-171). It is a mandatory spending program (i.e., not subject to annual appropriations) administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service. EQIP is guaranteed a total of $10.0 billion from FY2002 through FY2010 from the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC), making it the largest conservation financial assistance program.1 Issues about EQIP that Congress may explore as it starts to consider the next farm bill include (1) reducing the pending backlog of applications, (2) measuring the program's accomplishments, and (3) using EQIP to address specific topics or needs in specified locations. This report will be updated as circumstances warrant.