{"slug":"us-usda-nrcs-eqip-forestry-practices","name":"Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) forestry practices","provider":{"name":"USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service","type":"federal"},"organization":null,"country":"US","region":null,"locality":null,"scope":"national","audience":["landowner","farmer"],"kind":"cost_share","benefit":"NRCS pays part of the cost of approved conservation practices on private forest and farm land, including tree and shrub planting, forest stand improvement, site preparation and pruning","summary":"EQIP is USDA's main cost-share program for conservation work on private working land. NRCS staff write a conservation plan with the landowner and then pay a share of the cost of practices in an EQIP contract. Forestry practices listed by USDA include Tree/Shrub Establishment, Forest Stand Improvement, Tree/Shrub Site Preparation, Tree and Shrub Pruning, Forest Trails and Landings and Forest Farming (agroforestry).","eligibility":"Owners or operators of private agricultural land or privately owned forest land. USDA describes NRCS as serving farmers, ranchers and forest landowners, with programs for all types of agricultural operations and privately owned forests. Acreage minimums and ranking criteria are set by each state NRCS office.","how_to_apply":"Contact the NRCS office at your local USDA Service Center (find it at farmers.gov/service-center-locator). Staff visit the property, help build a conservation plan and take the EQIP application; applications are ranked by state and funded as money allows.","url":"https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs-initiatives/eqip-environmental-quality-incentives","source_url":"https://www.farmers.gov/your-business/forests","season":"Applications are taken year-round; each state sets its own ranking cut-off dates","program_status":"active","lat":null,"lng":null,"data_note":"Facts were read on USDA's farmers.gov forest-operations page (which carried a 'site under review, content may change' banner dated 5/20/2025). The nrcs.usda.gov program page could not be reached from our network at research time, so payment rates and state deadlines were not re-verified; check with your local NRCS office.","updated_at":"2026-11-08T00:02:20.743Z","page_url":"https://treerm.org/residents/programs/us-usda-nrcs-eqip-forestry-practices","markdown_url":"https://treerm.org/residents/programs/us-usda-nrcs-eqip-forestry-practices.md","license":"CC-BY-4.0"}