We deliver conservation solutions so agricultural producers can protect natural resources and feed a growing world.
The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) is a flagship conservation initiative from the NRCS that assists farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners in incorporating conservation practices into their working lands. It offers technical and financial support to address various natural resource concerns, aiming to improve water and air quality, enhance soil health, reduce soil erosion, create wildlife habitats, and mitigate the impacts of drought and weather volatility. The program highlights specific projects like the High Tunnel Initiative in California, which promotes the use of high tunnels or hoop houses for extended growing seasons, improved plant and soil quality, reduced energy use through local produce sourcing, and better pest control while supporting soil health practices such as cover crops and crop rotations. EQIP's broader goals include supporting practices to manage high tunnel systems effectively, reducing nutrient and pesticide runoff, and contributing to sustainable agricultural production.