LEARN ABOUT
Current Projects and Programs
LEARN ABOUT
Current Projects and Programs
North Jersey RC&D
EQIP-Assist
Supporting Farmers
Protecting Water Quality
North Jersey RC&D has created opportunities for NJ livestock farmers in certain counties and watersheds to receive funding for livestock-related projects and practices that support clean water and healthy soils. Through the EQIP-Assist Program, NJ RC&D works with NRCS planners to provide farmers with an additional cost-share payment on top of their NRCS EQIP payment.
Farms are capped at $20,000 in reimbursement through NJ RC&D's EQIP-Assist Program. Livestock farms in Hunterdon, Mercer, Morris, Somerset, Sussex, Union, and Warren counties are eligible. Farmers located in priority watershed areas will be given a higher priority for funding. See the map below.
EQIP-Assist Details
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WHO IS NORTH JERSEY RC&D: We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to working through partnerships and with farmers towards agricultural sustainability and water resource protection.
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WHAT IS FUNDED: Opportunities for funding up to $20,000 are available towards farmers with an active NRCS contract. Examples of NRCS practices eligible for funding are:
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Livestock Fence for rotational grazing or exclusion for waterways,
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Stream Crossings,
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Waste Storage Facility (e.g. manure storage pad),
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Roof Runoff Structures,
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Heavy Use Area Protection,
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Troughs (not including pipelines),
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Associated and additional practices that are tied to water quality may be eligible pending review from NJ RC&D.
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**Technical Service Providers: Farmers who require the following in order to work with NRCS: Nutrient Management Plan, Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan, or engineering designs for HUAP, livestock stream crossing, waste storage facility (manure pad), and/or roof run-off structures (gutters and downspouts in the barnyard) – You are encouraged to reach out directly to Sam at sloscalzo@northjerseyrcd.org early on in the NRCS EQIP application process before you have an NRCS contract. We may be able to assist in providing funding towards a technical service provider
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HOW IT WORKS: If you have an NRCS EQIP contract with livestock-related practices that fall within a watershed focus area (see map below) or the larger Hunterdon, Morris, Somerset, Sussex, Union, or Warren counties, contact your NRCS planner and ask them to contact Sam at sloscalzo@northjerseyrcd.org. We will work with your NRCS planner to determine if your location and practices are eligible for NJ RC&D's EQIP-Assist. Farmers who need a technical service provider (see above) should reach out directly to Sam early on in the NRCS application process.
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All practices will have a cost-share rate for reimbursement with a total cap of $20,000.
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The cost-share rate is based on NRCS payment rates. NRCS payment rates are a fixed payment rate dependent on the practice in the NRCS EQIP contract. The fixed rate is intended to pay for a percentage of a project (e.g. 75% of a fence installation). Due to regional calculations and constraints, these fixed payment rates often do not reflect the actual percentage of the project cost.
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If you are a non-HU (HU = NRCS Historically Underserved) producer, EQIP-Assist will help bring you up to a 90% cost-share rate for eligible practices.
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If you are an HU producer, EQIP-Assist will help bring you up to a 95 to 98% cost-share rate.
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EXAMPLE: You are installing a linear fence to keep livestock out of a stream and you are a non-HU producer.
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If NRCS pays $0.75 per linear foot, intended to cover 75% of costs based on NRCS regional calculations, NJ RC&D's EQIP-Assist will provide additional funding at $0.15 per linear foot.
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With the NRCS EQIP payment + the NJ RC&D EQIP-Assist payment, the farmer will receive a payment rate that comes to $0.90 per linear foot (intended to cover 90% of costs based on NRCS regional calculations). The farmer pays for the additional costs
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These are only example payment rates!
The payment rates can be confusing. We understand and will work with you to help make it more clear!
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WHO IS ELIGIBLE: Livestock farmers with an active NRCS contract or application with practices planned in Hunterdon, Morris, Somerset, Sussex, Union, or Warren counties. Farmers that fall within a priority watershed area will receive a higher priority for funding. See the section below: Areas Eligible for Funding for more information.
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HOW TO APPLY: This program does not have an application. If you are interested, please reach out to your NRCS planner. NJ RC&D will work with your NRCS planner to determine if your practices are eligible for funding. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until funding is no longer available. Funding availability is dependent on when practices will be implemented and where we are in a grant cycle. Farmers who need a technical service provider (see 'What is Funded' above) should reach out directly to Sam early on in the NRCS EQIP application process.
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If you are eligible for the program, we will contact you and send an agreement letter for signing.
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HOW WILL PROJECTS BE RANKED? Applications are considered on a first come first serve basis. If needed, they will be ranked based on:
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Location within a priority watershed
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Impact to water quality and resource concern;
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How 'shovel-ready' the practice is;
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Past funding received;
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Historically underserved status;
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Highly erodible land (HEL) determination.
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HOW DOES PAYMENT WORK? Eligible projects will receive a reimbursement check after NRCS has verified that the practice meets NRCS standards and specifications. If circumstances require it, producers may be eligible for an advanced payment from North Jersey RC&D. Participants must supply appropriate receipts and work with North Jersey RC&D staff to create field maps and provide photos of practice implementation.
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HOW IS THIS FUNDED?: The EQIP-Assist Program is made possible through grant funding to North Jersey RC&D. Funding is currently available through grants from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and the New Jersey Department of Agriculture. North Jersey RC&D is always seeking more funding. More funding will help make these opportunities more available to all.
*Please note that the AgAssist Cost-Share, & AgAssist Commitment programs are separate from this EQIP-Assist funding opportunity.
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Areas Eligible for Funding
Farmers located in Hunterdon, Mercer, Morris, Somerset, Sussex, Warren, and Union counties are eligible for EQIP-assist. Farmers located in priority watershed areas will be given a higher priority for funding.
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Pink/Light Red areas =Watershed focus areas (higher priority for funding)
Red outlined counties = RC&D Service Area of Hunterdon, Warren, Sussex, Morris, Somerset, Mercer, and Union
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Search for your address using the search bar to determine if your farm is within the focus areas.
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Our Partners
AgAssist is made possible through grant funding from New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection; New Jersey Department of Agriculture.
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