USDA Conservation Programs for Organic Producers

The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) is USDA's primary working lands conservation program, administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). EQIP provides financial and technical assistance to agricultural producers for implementing conservation practices that address natural resource concerns on their land.

For certified organic and transitioning producers, EQIP's Organic Initiative provides priority access to program funding and payments specifically for practices that support organic production systems.

How EQIP works:

• Producers apply to their local USDA NRCS Service Center during designated sign-up periods

• Applications are ranked competitively based on resource concerns addressed and environmental benefit scores

• Funded applicants enter a multi-year contract (typically 1–10 years) specifying which conservation practices will be implemented

• NRCS makes payments to the producer upon verification that each practice has been implemented to NRCS technical standards

• Technical assistance (planning, design, and implementation support) is provided free of charge through NRCS staff or approved Technical Service Providers

Payment rates:

EQIP pays a practice-specific dollar amount per unit (per acre, per linear foot, per animal unit) for each implemented practice. Payment rates are set by state and updated periodically. In many states, organic producers receive a payment rate premium above the standard EQIP rate — recognizing the additional management investment organic production requires.

EQIP funds over 150 conservation practices. The following are most commonly and most valuably used by certified organic and transitioning producers:

Soil Health Practices:

• Cover Crop (Practice 340): Per-acre payment for establishing cover crops — one of the most widely used EQIP practices on organic farms. Payment rates commonly range from $30–$65/acre.

• Nutrient Management (Practice 590): Developing and implementing a formal nutrient management plan for organic systems.

• Prescribed Grazing (Practice 528): Rotational or management-intensive grazing system design for organic livestock operations.

Water Quality Practices:

• Riparian Forest Buffer (Practice 391): Establishing permanent vegetated buffers along streams and waterways.

• Filter Strip (Practice 393): Vegetated strips that intercept runoff and filter sediment and nutrients.

• Grassed Waterway (Practice 412): Vegetated channels that safely carry concentrated surface runoff.

• Irrigation Water Management (Practice 449): Improving irrigation efficiency and reducing water quality impacts.

Pollinator and Wildlife Habitat:

• Conservation Cover (Practice 327): Permanent native or pollinator-mix vegetation on critical areas.

• Hedgerow Planting (Practice 422): Establishing woody plantings for wildlife habitat, windbreaks, and beneficial insect support.

Livestock and Pasture (Organic Livestock):

• Pasture and Hay Planting (Practice 512): Establishing or improving organic pastures for NOP pasture compliance.

• Watering Facility (Practice 614): Livestock watering infrastructure that supports rotational grazing.

Applying for EQIP is a multi-step process that works best when you start early and come prepared. Here is the complete pathway:

Step 1 — Find your local NRCS Service Center:

Visit nrcs.usda.gov or farmers.gov to locate the NRCS office serving your county. Many counties share a Service Center with your USDA FSA office.

Step 2 — Schedule a resource concern consultation:

Before submitting a formal application, schedule a meeting with your district conservationist to discuss your operation, your resource concerns, and which EQIP practices might be appropriate. This is a free service — NRCS staff are there to help you identify the best program fit.

Step 3 — Submit your application during sign-up:

EQIP has designated sign-up periods — typically one or more per year depending on your state. Submit your application and any supporting documentation (farm maps, existing conservation plans, certification documentation) by the sign-up deadline.

Step 4 — Application ranking:

NRCS ranks your application based on the resource concerns your practice plan addresses and the environmental benefit score. Organic and transitioning producers typically receive ranking priority in most states.

Step 5 — Contract offer and acceptance:

If your application is selected for funding, NRCS will offer you a contract. Review the contract carefully — it specifies the practices, payment rates, implementation timeline, and any conditions you must meet.

Step 6 — Implement practices and receive payments:

Implement each practice to NRCS technical standards within the contracted timeframe. NRCS verifies implementation and issues payment.

The Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) is USDA NRCS's primary program for rewarding producers who are already conserving natural resources and want to do more. Unlike EQIP, which funds new conservation practice implementation, CSP rewards existing conservation performance and incentivizes adoption of additional enhancements.

How CSP differs from EQIP:

• EQIP: Pay for implementing new conservation practices

• CSP: Pay for maintaining AND improving existing conservation performance

CSP is particularly well-suited to certified organic farms because:

• Certified organic operations often already have high conservation performance — the NOP's soil health, biodiversity, and natural resource protection requirements align directly with CSP criteria

• CSP specifically rewards operations that are maintaining their existing conservation practices, not just those adding new ones

• Organic certification itself is a qualifying activity under CSP — it is listed as a conservation enhancement activity that earns CSP points and improves payment eligibility

CSP payment structure:

• Annual payments based on a conservation performance score assessed across your entire operation

• Payments for existing practices plus payments for enhancement activities you agree to adopt

• 5-year contracts, renewable based on continued performance

CSP enhancements for organic farms can include:

Organic transition, organic certification maintenance, advanced cover cropping systems, reduced tillage, advanced nutrient management, integrated pest management, and pollinator habitat.

The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) is a USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) program that provides annual rental payments to farmers who voluntarily remove environmentally sensitive land from agricultural production and establish permanent vegetative cover.

CRP basics:

• Annual rental payments for the duration of the contract (typically 10–15 years)

• The enrolled land must be planted to approved conservation covers — native grasses, wildflowers, trees, or other permanent vegetation

• Enrolled land cannot be hayed, grazed, or cropped during the contract period (with limited exceptions)

Relevance for organic farmers:

• CRP is most relevant for organic producers with marginal land adjacent to their organic production fields — enrolling these areas in CRP provides annual income while establishing permanent habitat that benefits the organic production system

• CRP grasslands and native plantings provide the most durable, high-quality beneficial insect and pollinator habitat on organic farms

• CRP buffers along waterways protect the water quality of irrigation sources and receiving waters adjacent to organic fields

• Some CRP practices allow limited haying or grazing for certified organic livestock — contact your local FSA office for current rules

CRP Pollinator Habitat Practices:

CRP includes specific pollinator habitat practice options that establish diverse native wildflower and grass mixes — eligible for additional payment incentives in many states.

Organic certification and CRP:

Enrolling land in CRP does not affect the organic certification status of your actively farmed organic acres. Enrolled acres themselves can often be certified as wild crop areas if managed consistently with NOP standards.

The Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) is a USDA NRCS program that uses partnership agreements between NRCS and non-federal organizations — agricultural associations, nonprofits, state agencies, universities, and agribusinesses — to direct conservation assistance to specific geographic areas or resource concerns.

How RCPP works differently from EQIP and CSP:

• RCPP leverages partner organizations to bring additional resources, expertise, and outreach to conservation delivery

• RCPP projects target specific geographic areas or agricultural systems — meaning an RCPP project focused on organic transition in your region may provide support specifically tailored to organic producers

• Participating producers enter EQIP or CSP contracts as part of the RCPP project, often with enhanced payment rates or specialized technical assistance

Why RCPP matters for organic producers:

Several RCPP projects across the country have specifically targeted organic transition, soil health, and water quality in organic production systems. These projects often provide:

• Organic transition planning assistance

• Market connections for transitioning producers

• Peer-to-peer mentorship networks

• Specialized technical assistance beyond what standard EQIP provides

How to find RCPP projects in your area:

• Contact your local USDA NRCS Service Center

• State departments of agriculture often partner in RCPP and know about active projects

USDA conservation programs and organic certification have a fundamentally complementary relationship — but there are specific interactions producers should be aware of:

Positive alignment:

• EQIP and CSP conservation practices directly support NOP compliance requirements — cover cropping, nutrient management, and rotational grazing practices funded by NRCS directly address NOP soil health and natural resource requirements

• Your certifier will look favorably on documented NRCS conservation plans as evidence of planned, systematic natural resource management

Organic certification of NRCS-assisted land:

• Land managed under EQIP or CSP contracts can be certified organic — NRCS practice requirements do not prohibit organic management and are generally consistent with NOP standards

• However, confirm with your certifier that any practice specifications in your NRCS contract (specific materials, timing requirements) are consistent with your OSP

CRP land and organic certification:

• CRP-enrolled land is typically not farmed as certified organic cropland during the contract period

• Wild crop certification of CRP land is possible if the land meets the 36-month prohibited substance-free standard and harvesting does not damage the conservation cover

Payment and income tax:

• EQIP, CSP, and CRP payments are generally included in farm income and are subject to income tax — include them in your farm financial records and report to your tax preparer