Carroll County EQIP


The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) is a voluntary conservation program of the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) that promotes agricultural production and environmental quality. This program is available to farmers and offers financial and technical assistance to install or implement structural and management practices on eligible agricultural land.

The following are Carroll County Resource Concerns to be addressed by EQIP:
  • Soil Erosion – Sheet and Rill
  • Soil Erosion – Ephemeral Gully
  • Soil Erosion – Classic Gully
  • Water Quality – Excessive Nutrients and Organics in Surface Water
  • Water Quality – Excessive Nutrients and Organics in Ground Water
  • Plant Condition - Productivity, health, and vigor
These resource concerns address the following National EQIP priorities:

  1. Reduction of non-point source pollution.
  2. Reduction in soil erosion and sedimentation from unacceptable high levels on agricultural land
The goal of the locally led group was to recommend a ranking system that rewarded and gave priority to those producers that help most to address the above resource concerns. The ranking will be completed for the specific practices to be applied through the EQIP contract. Sign-up is continuous at the NRCS field office. The ranking of the applications will be done periodically as funding allocations become available, will be announced through the NRCS State Office, and will be publicized by all levels of NRCS. The local work group also recommended a list of conservation practices to be addressed, and the cost-share rates and/or incentive payments that are the most cost-effective, longest duration, and help most to address these priority resource concerns in the District. Beginning Farmers and Limited Resource Producers will receive 60%, 65%, or 75% for specific practices identified on the county practice list.

These higher cost share rates apply to the first $50,000 of EQIP cost share. The total EQIP funding Carroll County receives will be divided among the resource concerns of Soil Erosion, Plant Condition and Water Quality.

For more information on EQIP and other NRCS administrated programs contact the Carroll County USDA Service Center located at 1917 N US HWY 71, Carroll, IA. Phone (712) 792-1212 Ext. 3 Fax (712) 792-5785.

Carroll County Ranking Worksheet

Carroll County Practice List

Carroll County Nutrient Management Intensity Options

Carroll County Prescribed Grazing Intensity Options