How EQIP and GSWC Works in Hawaii and American Samoa

Local Work Groups

The local work groups serve as the starting point for the coordination of (USDA) programs administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). They ensure that conservation needs assessments are developed using community stakeholder input.

Based on the information gathered during the assessment process, the local work groups provide valuable input at the county or community level by identifying priority natural resource concerns and making programmatic recommendations on the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and the Ground and Surface Water Conservation (GSWC) Programs to the local NRCS District Conservationist.

State Technical Advisory Committee

Each year, the NRCS State Conservationist convenes the State Technical Advisory Committee to review the programmatic direction of EQIP and GSWC in Hawaii and American Samoa.  Following the solicitation of input from the local work groups, the State Technical Advisory Committee then advises the State Conservationist on proposed changes to EQIP and GSWC for the upcoming year.

Priority Natural Resource Concerns in Hawaii and American Samoa

Animal waste from livestock feeding operations has been identified by the State Technical Advisory Committee and the local work groups as one of the top priority natural resource concerns in Hawaii and American Samoa.

Other natural resource concerns identified are sedimentation or erosion, noxious weeds, insufficient water supply for irrigation or livestock, pesticide or nutrient contamination of ground or surface waters, at-risk species habitat, and invasive species.

In addition, agricultural water use is another resource concern to be addressed in the state.  Irrigation related practices that show a net reduction in agricultural water use may be funded under the Ground and Surface Water Conservation (GSWC) program of EQIP.

Fund Allocation

Under regular EQIP, an allocation will be established statewide for all applicants with animal waste and at-risk species habitat concerns.  In addition, separate allocations will be provided to each NRCS field office in order to fund projects that address local priority natural resource concerns within their service center area.

Under the GSWC program, a statewide allocation will be available to fund projects that show water savings of ground or surface water resources in an agricultural operation.

Sign-Up Periods

Interested farmers and ranchers may apply for EQIP cost-share assistance at any time during the year at local USDA Service Centers.  Periodically throughout the year, sign-up periods for ranking purposes are set by the State Conservationist with advice from the local work groups and State Technical Advisory Committee.  Applications received prior to or during a sign-up period are then evaluated for eligibility, pre-screened, and ranked for program funding.

Eligibility

Any agricultural producer engaged in livestock or crop production on eligible land may apply for EQIP.  Applicants must also have control of the land for the contract period (between 2 and 10 years) to be eligible for participation.  Contact your local USDA Service Centers for complete information on eligibility requirements.

Pre-Screening and Ranking Applications

All applications will be pre-screened to prioritize EQIP applications for evaluation and ranking.  Within a fund allocation, high priority applications will be given priority for funding before consideration is given to any medium or low priority application.

Medium priority applications will be evaluated and ranked based on criteria listed on the EQIP Application Evaluation Worksheet.  All unfunded medium priority applications will be cancelled at the end of the fiscal year unless the applicant requests that the application remain active.

Low priority applications will not be evaluated and their applications will be deferred until all high and medium priority applications are funded.  Technical assistance may still be provided by NRCS if the application is considered low priority for EQIP funding.  At the end of the fiscal year, all low priority applications will be cancelled.

Selecting Applications for Funding

Applications will be ranked on a statewide basis for animal waste and at-risk species habitat projects.  All other projects will be ranked against applications in their service center area based on the highest environmental benefit points and total project costs.

For More Information,
Please contact NRCS at your local USDA Service Center for more information.

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