Financial Assistance for Landowners
The 2002 Farm Bill offers several voluntary cost-sharing programs that offer a mix of financial incentives, technical assistance, and education to help landowners care for their land. The NH Division of Forests and Lands, UNH Cooperative Extension, NH Fish and Game Department (NHF&G), and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) all help bring these programs to you.
Contacting your UNH Cooperative Extension forester, your local NRCS conservationist, or your Farm Service Agency is the best way to decide which programs are right for you. What follows is a brief description of the available programs.
Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)
The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) provides technical and financial assistance to landowners to improve water quality, conserve both ground and surface water, reduce soil erosion, improve riparian and aquatic areas, improve air quality and address wildlife issues. The cost-sharing rate is 50% for most conservation practices, and contracts range from 1-10 years in length. Eligible land includes cropland, rangeland, pasture land, private non-industrial forestland, and other farm or ranch lands as determined by the Secretary of Agriculture. For more information contact your local NRCS conservationist or UNH Cooperative Extension forester.
Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP)
The Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) encourages the creation of high quality wildlife habitats that support wildlife populations of national, state, and local significance. Through WHIP, the NRCS provides technical and financial assistance to landowners to develop upland, wetland, riparian, and aquatic habitat areas. The program applies to lands owned by an individual, organization, or state or local government. The cost-sharing rate is up to 75% for most conservation practices, and contracts usually range from 5-10 years in length. For more information contact your local NRCS conservationist or UNH Cooperative Extension forester.
New Hampshire Fish and Game Department Small Grants Program
This state program is designed for restoring, maintaining, or enhancing wildlife habitat on privately owned land. The program applies to properties larger than 25 acres, owned by an individual, organization or local government. Funding is limited to $2,000 per property per year and no more than $6,000 will be granted to a single landowner over a 10-year period. The Small Grants Program is funded by a fee required of all who purchase a NH hunting license; therefore, funds will only be granted for projects on land that is open for non-motorized public use, including hunting. For more information, contact your regional New Hampshire Fish and Game Department office or Charlie Bridges at (603) 271-2461.
Help Is A Phone Call Away
Click here for a summary of financial assistance for forest landowners.
Click here for specifications for forest stewardship plans cost shared through federal assistance.
Web Resources
