U.S. Reps. Jill Tokuda and Ed Case, D-Hawaii, and House delegate Jim Moylan, R-Guam, have introduced a bill that would eliminate payment caps for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program to benefit ranchers and growers in Hawaii, Alaska, Guam and other high-cost, non-contiguous areas.

What You Need To Know

  • EQIP is a U.S. Department of Agriculture conservation program that provides technical and financial assistance to help farmers, ranchers and forest landowners improve water and air quality, reduce soil erosion and water runoff, increase soil health and expand wildlife habitat

  • According to the lawmakers, however, the current funding cap limits the effectiveness and reach of the program in Hawaii, Alaska, Guam and other high-cost, non-contiguous areas

  • The Eliminating Access Barriers to Conservation Act would allow USDA to eliminate EQIP payment caps in Hawaii, Alaska, Guam, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands

  • Hawaii received more than $5.5 million in EQIP payments in 2022 and more than $26 million between 2017 and 2022

EQIP is a U.S. Department of Agriculture conservation program that provides technical and financial assistance to help farmers, ranchers and forest landowners improve water and air quality, reduce soil erosion and water runoff, increase soil health and expand wildlife habitat.

According to the lawmakers, however, the current funding cap limits the effectiveness and reach of the program.

“Agricultural production and the responsible stewardship of our natural resources go hand in hand,” said Tokuda, a member of the House Agriculture Committee. “But things cost more in Hawaii and I’ve met with countless farmers and ranchers across our islands who want to invest in sustainable agriculture practices to improve production but they need more resources to do so. My bill will give our local producers a fighting chance to be effective in both protecting our aina and building resilience to market disruptions and the impacts of climate change.”

The Eliminating Access Barriers to Conservation Act would allow USDA to eliminate EQIP payment caps in Hawaii, Alaska, Guam, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

The Hawaii Cattlemen’s Council is among those supporting the measure. 

“Hawaii’s ranchers are innovative and always looking for ways to improve their practices to leave the land better than they found it,” said HCC managing director Nicole Galase. “The high cost of goods is a barrier for places like Hawaii, and removing the payment limitation through this Act will ensure that ranchers can get support on practices that are impactful on a large scale.”

Hawaii received more than $5.5 million in EQIP payments in 2022 and more than $26 million between 2017 and 2022. The vast majority of the funding has been directed to conservation efforts on Hawaii island.