Overview of New York Environmental Quality Incentives Program Forestry Initiative 2009

What is the EQIP Forestry Initiative?

The EQIP Forestry Initiative is an opportunity for private forestland owners in New York to implement conservation and management practices that will improve health and productivity of their forests, prevent soil erosion and improve habitat for at-risk wildlife species. The EQIP Forestry Initiative is a subset of the Environmental Quality Incentives Program.

EQIP is a voluntary program that provides financial and technical assistance to eligible private forestland owners who are willing to address priority environmental issues by implementing conservation practices. The EQIP Forestry Initiative is a partnership effort between the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Division of Land and Forests.

• Am I eligible?

• What are the eligible practices?

• What is the funding?

• How are payment levels determined?

• Are there options for historically underserved farmers?

• What are the contract obligations?

• What do I need to do to apply?

• What do I do next?

• How can I find out more?

• Conservation practice documents

Am I eligible?

Owners of non-industrial private forestland or land capable of growing trees may apply for the program. For Forest Management practices, the landowner must have a Forest Stewardship Plan developed or approved by DEC. Eligible land includes cropland, pasture, private non-industrial forestland and other farmland as determined by the Secretary of Agriculture. 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.

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What are the eligible practices?

EQIP Forestry applications will address resource concerns in 2 focus areas; Forest Management and Forest Wildlife. Technical assistance for Forest Management applications will be provided by NYS DEC and technical assistance for Forest Wildlife applications will be provided by NRCS. The types of conservation practices include:

• Forest Management

  • Forest Health Thinning

  • Crop Tree Release

  • Forest Trails and Landings
     

• Forest Wildlife

  • Wildlife Forest Openings

  • Wildlife Tree Pruning

  • Forest Trails and Landings

  • Tree/Shrub Establishment

More information about Conservation Practices can be found at the USDA NRCS Electronic Field Office Technical Guide (eFOTG).

 

For a complete list of eligible conservation practices, please refer to the table of Payment Schedules on this page.

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What is the funding?

EQIP payments are limited to $300,000 per individual or entity from 2009-2014, regardless of the number of contracts.

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How are payment levels determined?

Each eligible conservation practice has a Practice Payment Rate (PPR) which is a fixed amount based on a percentage of the state average cost of a typical installation of that practice.

These documents require Adobe Reader.

EQIP Forestry Incentive - Fact Sheet (PDF; 315 KB)
A printable version of the information presented on this Web page. Does not include Payment schedules.

DEC Foresters List (PDF; 30 KB)

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Are there options for historically underserved farmers?

The 2008 Farm Bill offers program opportunities for "Historically Underserved" individuals and groups. The Practice Payment rate for "Historically Underserved" is higher than the general rate.

These groups are:

• Socially Disadvantaged Groups

• Limited Resource Farmers and Ranchers

• Beginning Farmers and Ranchers

• Indian Tribes

To learn more, please visit our Web page, Opportunities for Historically Underserved Clients.

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What are the contract obligations?

EQIP Forest Management contracts are limited to a maximum of three years in length. EQIP Forest Wildlife contracts are limited to a maximum of six years in length. At least one practice from the contract must be started in the first twelve months, and no practices may be scheduled in the last year of the contract. Participants can be held financially liable for unfulfilled contracts.

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What do I need to do to apply?

You need to sign form NRCS-CPA-1200, Conservation Program Application. Applications for 2009 for the EQIP Forest Management or EQIP Forest Wildlife must be received at your local NRCS office by May 15, 2009. Applicants can only apply to one of the focus areas. Forms are available from the local USDA NRCS office, the local DEC Forester or you can download the form.

This document requires Adobe Reader.

NRCS CPA-1200, Conservation Program Application (PDF; 33 KB)

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What do I do next?

After applying at your local NRCS office, an NRCS Conservationist or DEC Forester will help you finalize a conservation plan, including selecting conservation practices. Your application will be ranked based upon national and state ranking criteria. You will be notified once funding decisions have been made.

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How can I find out more?

Contact your local USDA NRCS office, your local DEC Forester, or visit the NRCS New York or NYSDEC Web site.

These documents require Adobe Reader.

EQIP Forestry Incentive - Fact Sheet (PDF; 315 KB)
A printable version of the information presented on this Web page. Does not include Payment schedules.

DEC Foresters List  (PDF; 30 KB)
 

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These documents require Adobe Reader or Microsoft Excel.

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