Financial and technical help are available to assist growers install or implement structural and management practices on eligible agricultural land from a government program called Environmental Quality Incentives Program. EQIP is administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resource Conservation Service. EQIP offers contracts that provide incentive payments and cost-shares to implement conservation practices. Eligible projects include those dealing with water conservation and water quality, planting native vegetation and buffer zones near riparian areas, improving pollinator habitat, and much more.

For information on NRCS conservation programs, contact your local NRCS or conservation district office or visit: www.nrcs.usda.gov.