USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and other programs and services provide technical and financial assistance to farmers. Residents who own or rent land to produce agricultural products may be eligible to receive money for implementing practices that have environmental benefits. NRCS is making a push to better meet the needs of both urban, small-scale, and historically underserved (HU) farmers. New programs and services are also under development.
Contact Illinois NRCS Urban Conservationist, Joseph Bridges at joseph.bridges@usda.gov to find out what other practices and programs may apply to your situation.
Practices identified as applicable for urban and peri-urban farms include:
- Alley Cropping
- Composting Facility (Small Farm Pad + Bins)
- Conservation Cover, Pollinator Mix
- Conservation Crop Rotation
- Conservation Plan
- Cover Crop
- Fence (for 1 acre or less)
- Field Border
- Herbaceous Weed Treatment
- Herbaceous Wind Barriers
- High Tunnel System
- Irrigation Pipeline
- Irrigation System (micro)
- Irrigation Water Management (livestock)
- Low Tunnel Systems
- Mulching Soil Health Management Plan
- Nutrient Management
- Pasture and Hay Planting
- Pest Management Conservation System
- Prescribed Burning, 10 acres or less
- Residue and Tillage Management, No Till
- Residue and Tillage Management, Reduced Till
- Raised Beds
- Roof Runoff Structure (for high tunnels)
- Soil Carbon Amendment (compost/biochar)
- Soil Health Management System Design
- Soil and Source Testing for Nutrient Management
- Sprinkler System
- Stormwater Runoff Control (rain garden)
- Trails and Walkways (woodchips)
- Tree/Shrub Site Preparation
- Tree/Shrub Establishment
- Tree-Shrub Pruning
- Wildlife Habitat Planting (seed/seedlings)
- Windbreak/Shelterbelt Establishment and Renovation
Additional practices identified as potentially relevant for urban farms include:
- Soil Health Testing, Basic Soil Health Suite
- PFAS Testing in Water or Soil
- Anaerobic Digester
Note: Many practices are also designated HU for historically underserved. HU farmers include Limited Resource Farmer, Beginning Farmer, Socially Disadvantaged (minority) Farmer, and Veteran Farmer. You may certify in more than one category. If you are a historically underserved farmer, you receive a higher ranking for service, a higher rate of reimbursement for some practices, and the option to receive 50% of the cost share as an upfront payment rather than after purchase and installation or implementation.
FY 2023: Equipment Small-Scale Payment Schedule*
The schedule below applies to select cover crop, pest management conservation system, irrigation, soil carbon amendments, raised beds, high tunnels, and storm water runoff practices.
Note: The chart shows samples of covered practices; not all components for each practice are listed. Cost share amounts are for fiscal year 2023 only and are subject to change annually. Speak with a NRCS Conservationist for the most up-to-date information.
| Practice | Component | Unit | Unit Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Cover Crop |
Cover Crop - 1 acre or less | Ac | $428.81 |
| Cover Crop | HU-Cover Crop - 1 acre or less | Ac | $514.57 |
| Cover Crop | Mechanical Termination of Cover Crop per 1000 square feet |
kSqFt | $20.70 |
| Cover Crop | HU-Mechanical Termination of Cover Crop per 1000 square feet |
kSqFt | $24.84 |
|
Pest Management Conservation System |
Plant Health PAMS (Small Farm - each) labor and mitigation | No | $1,654.45 |
| Pest Management Conservation System | HU-Plant Health PAMS (Small Farm - each) labor and mitigation | No | $1,985.34 |
| Pest Management Conservation System | Plant Health PAMS activities (Small Farm - each) labor, materials, and mitigation | No | $6,818.92 |
| Pest Management Conservation System |
HU-Plant Health PAMS activities (Small Farm - each) labor, materials, and mitigation | No | $8,182.70 |
| Irrigation System, Microirrigation | Small Micro-irrigation System | SqFt | $0.80 |
| Irrigation System, Microirrigation | HU-Small Micro-irrigation System | SqFt | $0.95 |
| Soil Carbon Amendment | Compost - Small Areas | Cu-Ft | $24.42 |
| Soil Carbon Amendment | HU-Compost - Small Areas | Cu-Ft | $29.31 |
| Raised Beds | Framed Raised Bed Small Lot Contamination or Debris Sites only | SqFt | $11.90 |
| Raised Beds | HU-Framed Raised Bed Small Lot Contamination or Debris Sites only | SqFt | $14.28 |
| High Tunnel System | Small Gothic HT with Gutter | SqFt | $9.92 |
| High Tunnel System | HU-Small Gothic HT with Gutter | SqFt | $11.90 |
| Stormwater Runoff Control | Rain Garden, small scale | SqFt | $1.32 |
| Stormwater Runoff Control | HU-Rain Garden, small scale | SqFt | $1.58 |
Authored by: Kathryn Pereira. Local Food Systems and Small Farms Educator, Illinois Extension