How EQIP Works in Massachusetts

State and national environmental priorities

Application ranking, selection and funding is managed at a statewide level in Massachusetts. All applications are competitively ranked in statewide pools based on resource concerns, cost effectiveness and how well the proposed project meets national, state and local priorities of the program.

All of the applications received statewide will be evaluated using the ranking criteria for that pool.

You can read this year's ranking criteria on the application materials & documents page. The highest ranked applications will be approved for funding, until all of the funds have been obligated.

The current application deadline can be found on the EQIP home page, or you can call your local NRCS office to ask.

• National EQIP priorities:

  • Reduction of non-point source pollution, such as nutrients, sediment, pesticides or contaminants from point sources such as confined animal feeding operations in impaired watersheds and other groundwater and surface water resources.

  • Conservation of ground and surface water resources, such as inefficient use of irrigation water.

  • Reduction of emissions, such as particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds, and ozone precursors and depleters that contribute to air quality impairment violations of national Ambient Air Quality Standards.

  • Promotion of at-risk species habitat conservation.

  • Emphasis on certain conservation practices, including residue management, nutrient management, air quality management, invasive species management, pollinator habitat, and animal carcass management technology or pest management.

  • Promotion of energy conservation and organic production.

• Massachusetts EQIP priorities:

  • Water quality & conservation

  • Soil quality & Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

  • Invasive species control

  • Wildlife & pollinator habitat

  • Sustainable forests

  • Organic farming

  • Air quality & energy

• Funding pools for EQIP

  This year, EQIP applications will be assigned to one of five funding pools for competitive ranking and selection.

  • General EQIP

  • Organic farming

  • Air quality

  • Planning - (Forest management plans)

  • Historically underserved populations

    • Beginning farmers

    • Socially disadvantaged farmers

    • Tribal lands

Last modified: 06/09/2009