Federal Programs
Every Major Program, Plain English
These are all federal programs — available nationwide, administered locally. Each guide covers what it is, who qualifies, what it's worth, and exactly how to apply.
EQIP
Cost-share for fencing, water development, grazing improvements, brush management, and conservation infrastructure. The biggest conservation program.
Conservation Stewardship (CSP)
Annual payments for conservation work you're already doing — rotational grazing, maintained buffers, soil health practices. Often the most underutilized program.
Beginning Farmer Advantages
Enhanced cost-share, advance payments, loan priority, and dedicated funding pools. If you've been farming less than 10 years, these apply to everything else on this page.
Disaster Assistance
LIP for livestock deaths, ELAP for increased costs, LFP for drought, ECP for infrastructure repair. Most producers only know about one of these — there are at least six.
FSA Farm Loans
Operating loans, farm ownership loans, microloans, and the down payment program. Often better terms than commercial lenders, especially for beginning producers.
Program Stacking
How to combine EQIP, CSP, state programs, and FSA loans on the same operation. Most producers qualify for more than one.
Conservation Reserve (CRP)
Annual rental payments for retiring environmentally sensitive or marginal land from production. 10–15 year contracts.
Practice Guides
Deep dives by practice
What specific EQIP practices pay, how they rank, and how to apply.
EQIP Fencing →
Practice 382. Cross-fencing, riparian exclusion, wildlife-friendly fencing. What it pays per foot and how to rank well.
EQIP Water Development →
Practices 516, 533, 574, 614. Wells, pipelines, tanks, and spring development. The highest-impact practice for western ranches.
EQIP Prescribed Grazing →
Practice 528. The management plan that makes your fencing and water applications rank dramatically higher.
EQIP Brush Management →
Practice 314. Juniper, mesquite, and invasive woody species removal. A top priority in western states.
Not sure which ones apply to you?
Answer a few questions and we'll match you to the right programs.
Find out where to start →