Natural Resources Conservation Service

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), formerly the Soil Conservation Service (SCS), is a non-regulatory, federal agency in the U.S. Department of Agriculture created to lead a national effort to prevent erosion and protect the Nation's privately owned soils and water resources.

The NRCS is the technical partner to the Resource Conservation District (RCD). NRCS provides free technical assistance through a variety of voluntary programs aimed at helping land users protect, enhance, and wisely use our Nation's soil, water, and other natural resources.

The NRCS provides leadership in a partnership effort to help people conserve, maintain, and improve our natural resources and environment. Through Farm Bill conservation programs such as the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP), the NRCS provides financial assistance to landowners to implement conservation practices on their land.

NRCS Conservation Programs

Environmental Quality Incentives Program - EQIP

What is EQIP?

The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) was established in the 1996 Farm Bill to provide a voluntary cost share and technical assistance conservation program for farmers and ranchers to address significant natural resource concerns. EQIP provides technical and financial assistance to agricultural producers in all watersheds throughout Sonoma County.

Who is Eligible?

Eligible producers engaged in livestock or crop production on eligible land may apply for EQIP program benefits. Eligible land includes cropland, rangeland;grassland;pastureland; and private non-industrial forestland. Producers must gross $1,000 from eligible agricultural activities.

What can EQIP do for you?

EQIP offers 2 to 10 year contracts that provide incentive payments and cost-sharing for conservation practices outlined in a site specific conservation plan. These plans can be developed by producers with assistance from NRCS or other service providers. All plans are subject to NRCS technical standards and specifications. NRCS evaluates each plan using an evaluation process that gives higher funding priority to plans that optimize environmental benefits. If a contract is granted, cost-sharing can be up to 50% of the total practice cost or 75% if eligible for "Beginning Farmer" or "Limited Resource Farmer" status. Payments are made to a producer as a reimbursement after the practice has been installed and inspected.

Eligible practices are determined at the local level and are based upon the resource needs of local watershed basins. In Sonoma County, erosion control, water quality and fish habitat are all high priority concerns. There are many conservation practices that can be implemented to address these resource needs. These practices include, but are not limited to: permanent cover cropping, underground drainage outlets, road improvements, riparian enhancements, range improvements and water conservation practices.

How to Apply for EQIP

To receive an application packet and set up an appointment, contact Felicia Handley at the NRCS Petaluma Service Center at (707) 794-1242 ext. 125.

Additional information about EQIP may be found at the NRCS website at: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/eqip/.

Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program - WHIP

The Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) is a voluntary program for people who want to develop and improve wildlife habitat primarily on private land. Through WHIP, NRCS provides both technical assistance and up to 75 percent cost-share assistance to landowners and others to develop upland, wetland, riparian, and aquatic habitat areas on their property. Landowners may enroll privately owned land, Federal land when the primary benefit is on private or Tribal land, State and local government land on a limited basis, and Tribal land. The program provides cost-share payments to landowners under agreements that are usually 5 to 10 years in duration, depending upon the types of practices to be installed.

Applications may be filed with NRCS at any time. Applications and additional information about the program are available at: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/whip/.