The Department of Agriculture reminds historically underserved producers, who are participating in the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), of the advance payment option. 

The advanced payment option allows them to get conservation practice payments in advance of practice implementation. 

EQIP is administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service. 

The program provides financial and technical assistance to address natural resource concerns and to deliver environmental benefits. 

In fiscal 2019, NRCS invested $1.3 billion through EQIP to implement conservation practices on more than 13 million acres. 

A historically underserved producer includes beginning farmers, socially disadvantaged farmers, veteran farmers and limited resource farmers. 

Under the advance payment option, producers may request payments when they have final designs and job sheets and are ready to begin their EQIP practices. 

Advance payments provide at least 50 percent of the payment rate for each practice. 

The funds must be spent within 90 days of receipt and practices must be completed as agreed to in an EQIP plan of operations.