Government Incentives  

Enhanced Efficiency Fertilizers

Enhanced efficiency fertilizers (EEFs) are forms of fertilizer, including nitrogen fertilizers, designed to reduce nutrient losses to the environment and increase nutrient availability to crops. These fertilizers can either slow the release of nutrients for uptake or alter the conversion of nutrients to other forms that may be less susceptible to losses.

Categories of EEFs include slow and controlled release nitrogen fertilizers, nitrogen stabilizers and phosphate management products:

• Inhibitors and Stabilizers: Chemical additives that inhibit or slow biological N transformations in the soil.
• Slow Release Products: Complex nitrogen compounds that release N by biochemical breakdown of the material. Release time is determined by the nature and complexity of the compound and biological activity.
• Controlled Release Products: Coated fertilizers that release N by diffusion through the coating when in contact with soil moisture. Release rate is controlled by coating thickness and type and soil temperature.

United States – Incentive Programs

In the U.S. there are two main incentive programs available to growers – EQIP and CSP. Every state sets their own priorities and resource concerns, and structures their available funding based on resource priorities and national initiatives.

The Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) is a voluntary incentive program that awards financial contracts to farmers for trying a new conservation practice. Managed by the individual states, dollars should be available to you for improving environmental practices. ESN qualifies under the 590 nutrient management rules, which vary by state.

The Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) is a voluntary national program that provides financial and technical assistance to promote the conservation and improvement of soil, water, air, energy, plant and animal life, and other conservation purposes on Tribal and private working lands. The conservation practices for CSP are determined in partnership with local Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRSC) offices.

The best way to find out which program is best for you is to contact your local NRCS office and ask them about available funds when using ESN under EQIP or CSP.