In order for a participant to receive payments, the participant must enter into a contract agreeing to implement one or more conservation practices. Payment for technical services may be included in the contract pursuant to requirements of this part.

An EQIP contract will:

Identify all conservation practices to be implemented, the timing of practice installation, the operation and maintenance requirements for the practices, and applicable payments allocated to the practices under the contract;

Have a term for not more than 10 years;

Incorporate all provisions as required by law or statute, including requirements that the participant will:

Not implement any practices on the enrolled land that would defeat the program's purposes,

Refund any program payments received with interest, and forfeit any future payments under the program, on the violation of a term or condition of the contract, consistent with the provisions of § 1466.26,

Refund all program payments received on the transfer of the right and interest of the producer in land subject to the contract, unless the transferee of the right and interest agrees to assume all obligations, including operation and maintenance of the EQIP contract's conservation practices, consistent with the provisions of § 1466.25,

Develop and implement a CNMP when the EQIP contract includes an animal waste management facility on an AFO by the end of the contract period,

Implement conservation practices consistent with an approved forest management plan when the EQIP plan of operations includes forest-related practices that address resource concerns on NIPF,

Supply information as may be required by NRCS to determine compliance with contract and program requirements, and

Specify the participant's responsibilities for operation and maintenance of the applied conservation practices, consistent with the provisions of § 1466.22; and

Specify any other provision determined necessary or appropriate by NRCS to achieve the technical requirements of a practice or purposes of the program.

The participant must start at least one financially assisted practice within the first 12 months of signing a contract. If a participant, for reasons beyond their control, is unable to start conservation practice within the first year of the contract, the participant can request a modification from NRCS.

Each contract will be limited to no more than $450,000, unless the contract is with an Indian Tribe. Contracts related to organic operations are also subject to payment limitations pursuant to § 1466.24(b).