Environmental Quality Incentives Program
Practice Descriptions
Access Road - Covers components related to erosion and sediment control on
existing private access roads in forests, grasslands or cropland that are used
for the purpose of managing those lands.
Amendments for Treatment of Agricultural Waste covers application of
materials to manures produced in confined animal operations for the purpose of
reducing the impact of phosphorus on water quality. This is an incentive
practice and provides up to three years of financial assistance to producers who
have not used the practice for this purpose before.
Anaerobic Digester A waste treatment facility installed to biologically
treat animal waste to reduce green house gases and improve air quality.
Animal Mortality Facility and Composting Facility A composting facility is
a structure used to compost dead animals associated with a confined animal
operation. A mortality facility includes incinerators and freezers. These
should be used only when existing facilities are not adequate for the existing
operation.
Brush Management Mechanical or chemical treatment of brush to restore a
desired plant community. This is not annual weed control. If done correctly
and proper management used, it should be needed infrequently.
Closure of Waste Impoundment cost shares are available to assist with
proper closure of an animal waste impoundment to meet permit requirements when
the confined animal waste operation is being discontinued as a result of loss of
contract through no fault of the owner/operator and no other contract is
available.
Conservation Cover Used for establishment of vegetative cover to reduce
erosion, improve water quality, and enhance wildlife habitat on land not used
for haying, grazing, cropping, or similar uses. This practice might be used to
establish a cover on newly constructed levees.
Constructed Wetlands Used as an alternative means to treat liquid animal
waste.
Critical Area Planting similar to Conservation Cover, but on sites where
normal vegetative establishment methods are not sufficient and erosion is more
extreme. Conditions may require more extensive dirt work to prepare a planting
site. This practice may be used in conjunction with a structure to control
runoff.
Dike A low earthen structure generally used in conservation programs to
enable and control shallow water flooding, or to enhance irrigation water
management.
Diversion A low earthen structure, generally on a specific grade and with a
controlled outlet, used to intercept runoff to reduce erosion and improve water
quality.
Fence Used to aid in controlling access of livestock to certain sites such
as streams, ponds and wildlife habitat, and to aid in carrying out good grazing
management, especially the prescribed grazing practice. Cost shares are not
available for exterior/border fences or for corrals.
Field Border A strip of permanent vegetation at the edge of or surrounding
a field to reduce erosion and sedimentation, provide wildlife food and cover,
and aid in insect control.
Filter Strip - A strip of permanent vegetation with the primary purpose of
capturing sediment and other pollutants to protect water quality. Some land
smoothing may be required to accomplish proper water flow.
Firebreak A strip of land, either bare or with vegetation, planted for the
purpose of retarding fire. Aids in conducting prescribed burns and protecting
against wildfire, and can provide wildlife food and cover. Cost share is
available for use on forest land or grass land only.
Forest Stand Improvement Practices to improve the health and diversity of a
forest stand, including wildlife habitat benefits, but cannot be used in EQIP
solely to improve the productive capacity of a stand or result in commercial
sales of products.
Forest Trails & Landings This practice is used similarly to Access Roads,
but on sites not normally used as roads. It is also used to implement erosion
control measures on landings.
Grade Stabilization Structure Structures constructed of earth, other
materials and pipes used to control head cutting in natural and artificial
channels.
Grassed Waterway Used alone or with diversions or terraces to discharge
water safely down a slope without erosion. Work involves shaping an area to a
specific grade and width and establishing a permanent grass cover.
Heavy Use Area Protection Used primarily for areas with heavy livestock
use, such as around water troughs or other watering points, but may apply to
other conservation uses. Usually involves placing filter cloth and a layer of
pervious material such as SB2 rock, but may include other materials. This is
not required with every watering facility, but is available when needed.
Hedgerow Planting A narrow strip of native shrubs and/or trees in, across,
or around a field. Generally used in cost share programs to improve wildlife
habitat.
Irrigation Land Leveling Shaping an irrigated field to a specific grade to
improve the management of irrigation water. For cost share purposes, a
reduction in the amount of water needed must be accomplished.
Irrigation Regulating Reservoir A relatively small irrigation water storage
reservoir for storing irrigation water for short periods to aid in improved
water management and as part of a tail water recovery system, with a primary
benefit of reducing demand on ground water
Irrigation Storage Reservoir A larger reservoir for storing irrigation
water until needed, with a primary benefit of reducing demand on ground water.
Irrigation System, Micro-irrigation Available only for use on alternative
crops that already have an irrigation history; for the purpose of improving
irrigation water efficiencies and reducing the water needs.
Irrigation System, Sprinkler Available only for the purpose of land
application of liquid manures from confined animal operations. Generally a
permanent installation, but traveling guns may be used when the cost can be
shown to be less than a permanent installation.
Irrigation Water Conveyance Underground irrigation pipeline used to improve
irrigation water management on land with an irrigation history. When associated
with pumps, practice should begin at point of connection.
Irrigation Water Management covers installation of items, such as flow
meters and surge valves to improve delivery and management of irrigation water.
Also provides an incentive payment for trial use of the side inlet water
delivery method for up to three years for any eligible participant who has not
used this method before.
Mulching Used to address sites that need mulching to control erosion and
aid in establishment of vegetation.
Pasture and Hayland Planting Used to establish forage on pasture or hayland
sites where erosion is excessive and cover needs to be re-established. A
special incentive is available to encourage plantings of native forages.
Pipeline Used to carry livestock water from a source to a trough. Eligible
when an existing water source is being blocked such as by fencing to protect
water quality or wildlife habitat or when implementing a prescribed grazing
system to the minimum level described in EQIP policy
Pond Used as a means to treat resource concerns such as: stop erosion and
protect water quality; replace an existing water source being blocked, such as
by fencing, to protect water quality or wildlife habitat; implementing a
prescribed grazing system to the minimum described in EQIP policy. May not
exceed the size needed for this purpose. Cost shares are not available when the
intent is solely for fish, recreation, or livestock water except as noted above.
Pond Sealing or Lining for use in liquid waste storage structures where
needed to prevent ground water contamination.
Prescribed Burning for use with native grasses and on forestry sites to
improve diversity, stand health, and wildlife habitat. Burning may also be used
as a site preparation method for establishment of trees or shrubs being planted
through an EQIP contract.
Prescribed Grazing - Provides an incentive payment for trial use of the
prescribed grazing methods at the minimum level described in EQIP policy for up
to three years for any eligible participant who has not successfully used this
practice before. A variation is also available to encourage proper grazing of
native warm season grasses to improve habitat for ground nesting birds through
periodic deferred grazing.
Pumping Plant - Pumps used in irrigation systems being installed for the
purpose of reducing the use of ground water. May also be used in alternative
livestock water supplies when an existing water source is being blocked, such as
by fencing, to protect water quality or wildlife habitat or when implementing a
prescribed grazing system to the minimum described in EQIP policy
Riparian Forest Buffer an area of predominantly trees and/or shrubs
established along a watercourse or water body for the purpose of improving water
quality and riparian wildlife habitat, and increasing carbon storage. A zone of
native grasses may be included.
Riparian Herbaceous Cover Similar to Riparian Forest Buffer, but used on
sites naturally dominated by herbaceous vegetation.
Roof Runoff Structure Used in confined animal facilities, such as dairies,
to collect, control, and transport precipitation from roofs to aid in protecting
water quality and reduce erosion.
Shallow Water Management for Wildlife - Provides an incentive payment for
trial use of methods to manage shallow water for wildlife for up to three years
for any eligible participant who has not used this practice before.
Solid/Liquid Waste Separation Facility A facility to separate solids and
liquids in an animal waste treatment system.
Spring Development Developing spring water for livestock use when to
replace an existing water source being blocked such as by fencing, or when
implementing a prescribed grazing system to the minimum described in EQIP
policy.
Stream Crossing - Establishes a permanent stream crossing on roads on
grassland and forest land and that are used for the purpose of managing those
lands. These must be established at existing inadequate stream crossings for
the purpose of improving water quality.
Streambank and Shoreline Protection Activities to stabilize an eroding
stream bank or shoreline using combinations of structural and vegetative
measures. Use of this practice is limited to sites that, in an NRCS engineers
opinion, can be successfully stabilized.
Structure for Water Control A structure in a irrigation, drainage, or other
water management system used to control water to aid in irrigation water
management, to control erosion and sediment, to aid in managing the water level
on a site for shallow water management, or for similar activity.
Tree/Shrub Establishment The planting of trees or shrubs for the purpose
of erosion control, water quality improvement, and increased diversity and
health of an existing forest stand. This practice may also be used to
supplement other practices that require the planting of trees or shrubs. Cost
shares are not available in EQIP strictly for the establishment of a commercial
stand of timber that does not also accomplish one of the above objectives.
Tree/Shrub Site Preparation Used in association with Tree/Shrub
Establishment to properly prepare a site for successful planting.
Upland Wildlife Habitat Management Used for the planting of a variety of
permanent native and introduced plants for the purpose of increasing wildlife
food and cover on upland habitat sites.
Waste Facility Cover Used to cover a waste treatment or storage facility
when needed to exclude precipitation, and to capture and control biogas for air
quality purposes.
Waste Storage Facility A facility to store either liquid or dry animal
manures from a confined animal operation until an appropriate time for land
application or other use.
Waste Treatment Treatment of liquid animal waste to address nutrient, air
quality, and odor issues. Cost shares are available only when used in
conjunction with a Waste Storage Facility, Renovation component or the Closure
of Waste Impoundment practice.
Waste Treatment Lagoon A facility to store and treat animal waste from a
confined animal operation.
Waste Utilization - Provides an incentive payment to encourage the transfer
and shipment of animal manures produced on a confined animal operation in excess
of the amount that can be properly used on the manure producers land to another
person who can properly use the material. Cost shares are available for up to
three years for any eligible participant who has not used this practice before.
Cost shares are paid to the recipient of the animal manure. Location of use
may be impacted by state law.
Water Facility Trough for providing livestock water.
Water and Sediment Control Basin The construction of small earth
embankments to capture sediment, reduce gully erosion, and protect water
quality.
Water Well - Wells are available to improve a water supply for irrigation of
alternative crops according to the Arkansas EQIP definition. They are also
available for livestock water when replacing an existing water source being
blocked, such as by fencing, or when implementing a prescribed grazing system to
the minimum described in EQIP policy. Only the minimum size needed to address
alternative crops or livestock carrying capacity on a specific operation may be
cost shared.
Wetland Restoration Consists of various earth moving activities in addition
to other needed structures to create both permanent and managed hydrology for
wildlife food and cover and to aid in water quality improvement.
Wetland Wildlife Habitat Management - Used for the planting of a variety of
permanent native and introduced plants for the purpose of increasing wildlife
food and cover on wetland habitat sites.
Windbreak/Shelterbelt Establishment Single or multiple rows of trees and
shrubs arranged in a manner to protect plants from wind damage, such as from
blown sand or to improve air quality and reduce odor problems adjacent to
confined animal operations.
Last Modified:
12/19/2006
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