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Hawaii EQIP and GSWC 2005

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 farmerEQIP 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).

The following documents require Adobe Acrobat DocumentAdobe Acrobat, Microsoft Word DocumentMicrosoft Word, or Microsoft Excel SpreadsheetMicrosoft Excel

General Program Description Documents

Adobe Acrobat Document2005 Hawaii EQIP Fact Sheet
Adobe Acrobat Document2005 Hawaii GSWC Fact Sheet
Adobe Acrobat Document2005 Hawaii EQIP and GSWC Application Process Deadlines

Application and Sign-Up Information

Adobe Acrobat DocumentEQIP an GSWC 2005 Sign-Up Information
Adobe Acrobat DocumentCCC-1200 Conservation Program Application
Adobe Acrobat DocumentAppendix to Form CCC-1200
Adobe Acrobat DocumentForm HI-SCIMS Applicant Information for USDA Programs 
Microsoft Word DocumentSample Concurrence Letter
Adobe Acrobat DocumentCCC-502A Farm Operating Plan for Payment Eligibility Review for an individual
 Adobe Acrobat DocumentAD-1026 Highly Erodible Land Conservation (HELC) and Wetland Conservation (WC) Certification
Microsoft Word DocumentSample NRCS-CPA-38 Cover Letter
Adobe Acrobat DocumentNRCS-CPA-38 Request for Certified Wetland Determination/ Delineation
Adobe Acrobat DocumentCCC-526 Payment Eligibility Average Adjusted Gross Income Certification

Application Evaluation and Ranking Information

Microsoft Excel SpreadsheetStatewide - Animal Waste
Microsoft Excel SpreadsheetStatewide - At-Risk Species Habitat
Microsoft Excel SpreadsheetStatewide - Ground and Surface Water Conservation
Microsoft Excel SpreadsheetHawaii - Hilo Field Office
Microsoft Excel SpreadsheetHawaii - Kealakekua Field Office
Microsoft Excel SpreadsheetHawaii - Waimea Field Office
Microsoft Excel SpreadsheetKauai - Lihue Field Office
Microsoft Excel SpreadsheetMaui - Wailuku Field Office
Microsoft Excel SpreadsheetMolokai - Hoolehua Field Office
Microsoft Excel SpreadsheetOahu - Aiea Field Office

Conservation Practice Information

Microsoft Excel SpreadsheetCost List for Hilo, Waimea, Lihue, Wailuku, Aiea
Microsoft Excel SpreadsheetCost List for Kealakekua
Microsoft Excel SpreadsheetCost List for Hoolehua
Microsoft Excel SpreadsheetProject Cost Estimator

Contract Implementation Information

Adobe Acrobat DocumentHI-300-5-12 Bulletin Guidelines - FY-05 (26 KB)
Adobe Acrobat DocumentGuideline No. 1 for Implementing Contracts (43 KB)
Microsoft Excel SpreadsheetGuideline No. 2 for Documenting Expenses (42 KB)
Adobe Acrobat DocumentGuideline No. 3 for Eligible Practice Expenses (56 KB)

Link to Other Useful Site with Information Related to the 2004 EQIP Program

Hawaii EQIP Contact

Shirley Nakamura
Phone: (808) 541-2600 extension 112
Email: shirley.nakamura@hi.usda.gov

Last Modified: 11/07/2007

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