Nebraska Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)

How EQIP Works In Nebraska

Individual contracts will be limited to a maximum $450,000.

Each application will include basic data such as land use, treatment, acres and applicant information.  The applicant will then select 1 of 3 application options:

1. General Ranking
2. Ground & Surface Water Conservation Ranking
3. Animal Feeding Operations (AFO) Ranking

The ranking forms contain points for national and state priorities, which includes the seven resource concerns developed from the State Technical Committee and EQIP Subcommittee.  The qualifying practices in order to earn points are shown in the Resource Concern categories on the EQIP Conservation Practice List.

Ground & Surface Water Conservation (G&SWC) Ranking will be used when the primary goal of the contract is to maximize water savings on irrigated land.  This includes conversion from irrigated land to non-irrigated land, conversion from irrigated land to subsurface drip irrigation, and conversion from gravity irrigation to sprinkler irrigation.  This is shown in the G&SWC ranking template.  An Excel spreadsheet will be available to calculate the water savings in inches per acres.

Animal feeding operations (AFO) ranking is outlined in the AFO ranking template..  Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plans (CNMP) need to be developed before ranking the application. 

20% of the general funds will be allocated for animal feeding operations using one statewide ranking system.  The remaining general funds will be allocated to NRDs based on the Nebraska resource assessment and drought impacted areas.  The ground and surface water conservation funds will be allocated to NRDs based on current irrigated acres, groundwater decline areas, and drought impacted areas.

District Conservationists, in consultation with their Local Work Group (LWG), will have the option to modify the general and ground and surface water conservation ranking templates to fit the local resource concerns.  Modification will include the option to adjust points, to add locally specific factors, and to adjust cost share rates and incentive payment amounts.

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