We deliver conservation solutions so agricultural producers can protect natural resources and feed a growing world.
The EQIP-CIC (Environmental Quality Incentives Program - Conservation Incentive Contracts) program is designed to integrate the classic EQIP practices with the advancements and enhancements found in the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), specifically targeting High Priority Areas as designated by the State Conservationist in Utah. Introduced by the 2018 Farm Bill, EQIP incentive contracts aim to broaden resource benefits for agricultural producers by implementing conservation practices such as cover crops, transitioning to resource-conserving crop rotations, and adopting precision agriculture technologies. This approach not only supports a diverse range of incentive practices for ranchers and nonindustrial private forest operators but also serves as a bridge for producers between the EQIP classic and CSP contracts, allowing them to enhance environmental quality without enrolling their entire operation. The program specifically addresses Utah Priority Resource Concerns, which include livestock production limitations such as feed and forage balance and inadequate livestock shelter, as well as soil quality limitations including aggregate instability, compaction, concentration of salts or other chemicals, organic matter depletion, and soil organism habitat loss or degradation.