How EQIP Works in South Carolina 

Farmers will develop a conservation plan, if they don’t already have one, for the acreage affected by the EQIP practices.  Conservation practices must meet NRCS technical standards.  Farmers may elect to use an approved third-party provider for technical assistance, if available.

The major resource concerns targeted by EQIP in South Carolina are components of the national priorities and measures outlined by the National NRCS Office.  Those national concerns are reduction of nonpoint source pollutants, reduction of emissions, reduction in soil erosion and sedimentation and promotion of the conservation of at risk species.  All EQIP contracts should document an existing resource concern.  

Eligibility

The Farm Service Agency or the Natural Resources Conservation Service or the Local Working Group Determine eligible producers for the EQIP program.   Any farmer engaged in livestock or crop production on eligible land may apply for EQIP.  Eligible land includes cropland; rangeland; pasture; private non-industrial forestland; and other farm or ranch lands, as determined by the Secretary of Agriculture. 

Resource Concerns

South Carolina’s resource concerns, recommended by the State Technical Committee, are listed here. 

• Cropland Erosion 
• Cropland Management 
• Animal Waste Management 
• Grazing Lands Management 
• Forestland Erosion 
• Wildlife Habitat Management

Cropland Erosion is intended to target treatment of management units with erosion in excess of soil loss tolerance while Cropland Management addresses water quality and plant management concerns not associated with erosion problems. 

Animal Waste Management includes conservation practices related to the storage, handling and application of animal waste and the treatment of erosion and water quality problems associated with confined animal facilities. 

Grazing Lands Management treats resource needs associated with pasture and hayland management. Conservation practices could include, but not be limited to, prescribed grazing, fence, livestock watering facilities, heavy use area, nutrient and pest management. 

Forestland Erosion includes conservation practices on forest trails and landings and treatment of other eroding areas on forestland. 

Wildlife Habitat Management is for improving wildlife habitat. Special concern will be given to Threatened and Endangered species and Species of Concern.

Conservation Practices - County Signups

Local Working Groups, as outlined in the EQIP Manual, have identified resource priorities for their area. The conservation practices that treat the resource needs of the highest concerns receive the most environmental points and are funded accordingly.  Sign-Up forms are available at your local USDA Service Center or through the National EQIP website.

Counties

Counties will receive EQIP allocations based on the dollar amount of applications received and the extent at which they are addressing their local resource concerns and how those concerns reflect State and National resource concerns.

Program Payment Limits

EQIP costshare is limited to $450,000 per person or entity, as well as a $50,000 for incentive payments for the entire Farm Bill. Costshare payment on irrigation practices are limited to $25,000 per contract and Stacking Sheds with a roof are limited to 50 percent costshare rate.

Input from Outside Groups, Agencies, and Citizens: The list of eligible practices in South Carolina, cost share rates and limits, eligible resource concerns, and scoring criteria for waste storage were developed based on input and recommendations from the South Carolina State Technical Committee (SCSTC).  The SCSTC is made up of representatives from various agribusinesses, producer groups, conservation organizations, and federal, state, and tribal government agency representatives.

The SCSTC receives input on factors affecting the program from the Local Work Groups (LWG).  The LWG is made up of county agency staff.  Landowners may provide advice and information to the LWG as part of the locally led process.

The priorities set are those that the SCSTC and LWG determined were of the greatest need and would have the greatest positive environmental impact. The scoring process was developed in order to select those projects that would provide the greatest environmental benefit, and therefore provide the greatest public good.  The resource concerns are ranked differently from county to county depending upon the LWG priorities, however the resource concerns being addressed are the same for the entire state, as this was determined by the SCSTC.  

Contact

Shawnn Balstad
Phone: 803-253-3930
Email: shawnn.balstad@sc.usda.gov

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