USDA NRCS Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)

Federal cost-share program for farmers and forest landowners implementing conservation practices that benefit water quality, soil health, and wildlife habitat.

EQIP is NRCS's flagship cost-share program for agricultural producers, providing financial and technical assistance to install conservation practices on working lands. Eligible practices cover a wide range of watershed-beneficial work including cover crops, riparian forest buffers, stream crossings, rotational grazing infrastructure, and nutrient management planning. Applications are accepted year-round and ranked for funding during cutoff periods. Pennsylvania NRCS works closely with county conservation districts and watershed groups to outreach to landowners. Watershed organizations can support EQIP by identifying priority landowners, co-hosting informational meetings, and helping with post-installation monitoring.