Conservation Activity Plan (CAP)

Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)

The Food Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 (Farm Bill) provides authority to use EQIP financial assistance for payment of practices and conservation activities involving the development of plans appropriate for the eligible land of a program participant. The Act specifically authorizes EQIP to be used for comprehensive nutrient management plans and other plans that further the purposes of the program. The conservation practice associated with plan development under this authority is known as a “conservation activity plan” or CAP.

The Farm Bill statute allows for an EQIP payment up to 75 percent of the estimated incurred cost of practice implementation, which for a CAP practice will be the development of a conservation plan meeting agency standards and requirements, and up to 90 percent of the estimated incurred cost for qualifying historically underserved producers.

All Conservation Activity Plans are developed by a certified Technical Service Provider (TSP) to help agricultural producers and forest owners address specific natural resource concerns on their land. EQIP payments are made directly to program participants for development of a CAP by a certified Technical Service Provider.

The Conservation Activity Plans shown below, and a list of conservation practice Implementation Scenarios can be viewed and downloaded from our Conservation Practice Support Documents pages.

The following documents require Adobe Reader. All PDF documents are under 50 KB in size.

Agricultural Energy Management Plan (Headquarters)
Agricultural Energy Management Plan (Landscape)
Comprehensive Air Quality Management Plan
Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan (CNMP)
Conservation Plan Supporting Organic Transition
Grazing Management Plan
Integrated Pest Management Plan (IPM)
Irrigation Water Management Plan
Nutrient Management Plan
Oil Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure (SPCC)

Application and Eligibility Information

A Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan is required to be eligible to apply for funding through our Livestock Waste Local Focus Area.

Applicants must meet eligibility for Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) certification and be in compliance with the Highly Erodible Land and Wetland Conservation Provisions of the Food Security Act of 1985 as amended. Applicants must also have written commitment from a Technical Service Provider.

How to Apply for USDA-NRCS Conservation Programs

Learn what steps you will need to take to prepare for, and submit, your application to become a USDA-NRCS Conservation Program participant.

Learn more information on the criteria required to become an eligible EQIP applicant.

Financial Assistance Payment Rates, and Application

The following documents require Adobe Reader.

For more information, contact your local USDA Service Center, or visit the USDA-NRCS Environmental Quality Incentives Program Web site.

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