Beginning farmers, Veterans, socially disadvantaged or limited resource farmers who sign up for NRCS’s Environmental Quality Incentives Program are eligible for advance payments. South Dakota NRCS EQIP Coordinator Jennifer Wurtz says those farmers are designated as historically under served and are encouraged to apply for payments.

She says those who are accepted in the EQIP program are required to have some type of conservation plan approved by NRCS.

Wurtz says EQIP is one of the most popular programs provided by NRCS and is the only one that assists with infrastructure practices.

She says there is continuous signup for EQIP and the national NRCS office has yet to come out with their next batch of financing for the program.