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Hawaii EQIP and GSWC 2004

The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) is a voluntary conservation program that supports production agriculture and environmental quality as compatible goals. It provides financial and technical assistance to farmers and ranchers who install conservation practices that address natural resource concerns on agricultural lands.

The Ground and Surface Water Conservation program (GSWC) which was established as a part of EQIP under the 2002 Farm Bill. Agricultural producers may install irrigation related conservation practices that conserve ground and surface water resources.

Environmental Quality Inventives Program: Photo of NRCS District Conservationist and farmer EQIP and GSWC sign-ups are currently underway at all USDA Service Centers in Hawaii. Farmers and ranchers can apply for cost-sharing of many types of structural and management conservation practices, which address the following priority resource concerns identified by the State Technical Advisory Committee and the Local Work Groups:

Animal Waste from Confined Livestock Operations
Sedimentation from Accelerated Erosion
Noxious Weeds
Insufficient Water Supply for Livestock or Irrigation
Pesticide or Nutrient Contamination of Ground or Surface Waters
At-Risk Species Habitat
Invasive Species (Coqui Frog, Little Fire Ant, Nettle Caterpillar)
Ground and Surface Water Conservation

EQIP may pay a percentage of the costs of eligible conservation practices. Limited resource producers and some beginning farmers or ranchers may qualify for increased cost-share percentages. Incentive payments may be made for a maximum of 3 years to encourage a farmer or rancher to adopt land management practices (such as nutrient management, pest management, and grazing management).

EQIP was reauthorized in the 2002 Farm Bill and is administered by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

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