96-881 - Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP): Status and Issues
1-Nov-1996; Jeffrey Zinn and Geoffrey Becker; 6 p.
Abstract: The Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 (P.L. 104-127) authorizes a major new resource conservation program, the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), to provide farmers with financial, technical and educational assistance. EQIP replaces four terminated cost-sharing programs that had been funded through annual appropriations. EQIP, as an entitlement program, is guaranteed $200 million annually through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) revolving financing fund administered by the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC). USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) on October 11 issued proposed rules to implement the new program, raising a number of key implementation issues. [read report]
Topics: Agriculture, Federal Agencies