The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Washington has set the application deadline for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program – Conservation Incentive Contracts (EQIP-CIC) in Washington to Jan. 24, 2022.
EQIP-CIC is a voluntary conservation program administered by NRCS that offers farmers, ranchers and nonindustrial private forest landowners financial and technical assistance to help plan and implement conservation practices and activities on working agricultural and forestry landscapes. Conservation Incentive Contracts offer conservation activities above and beyond EQIP practices, which producers can implement to address resource concerns. Unlike the Conservation Stewardship Program, EQIP-CIC doesn’t require the producer to enroll their entire operation to participate.
“EQIP-CIC offers producers a chance to ‘try out’ the enhancements before they make the jump into CSP,” said Keith Griswold, assistant state conservationist for programs.
For more information on this program visit the NRCS-WA EQIP-CIC website and contact a local field office to schedule an appointment.