EQIP Improvement Act of 2025

This bill updates USDA’s Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). It changes how much of a project EQIP will pay for: up to 75% for most conservation practices; 40% for certain construction-heavy items like access roads, dams, irrigation pipelines, ponds, and waste storage; and 100% for income a producer gives up while doing a practice. It also lowers the total amount a producer can receive, dropping the cap from $450,000 to $50,000. The bill adds a yearly report so the public can see how EQIP dollars are spent by practice type, by state, and by the size of the producer’s operation.

Key points

• Who is affected: Farmers, ranchers, and other producers who use EQIP for conservation work.
• What changes:
  • Typical EQIP cost share: up to 75% for most practices; 40% for listed construction items; 100% for income foregone, with mixed rates when a project includes both types.
  • New payment cap: reduced to $50,000 per producer (previously $450,000).
  • Transparency: USDA must submit a yearly report showing spending by practice category, by state, and by producer size.