The EQIP Bridge Loan Program
Closing the public conservation funding gap through 0% interest bridge loans with flexible repayment terms.
Making Public Conservation Dollars More Accessible
The USDA’s Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) reimburses a portion of the expenses for conservation practices that improve soil, water, and biodiversity. But producers must cover those costs up front — a burden many cannot afford on razor-thin margins. For too many, this delays or even prevents them from taking advantage of public dollars.
FS6’s EQIP Bridge Loan Program removes this barrier with no-fee, no-interest bridge loan that aligns with EQIP contract timelines. Backed by the Soil Health Opportunities & Tools (SHOT) Fund, the program ensures that lack of liquidity is never the reason a producer can’t take advantage of EQIP funding. By closing this gap, we enable farmers and ranchers to implement regenerative practices faster, at greater scale, and with more confidence.
Our Process
Application, Eligibility Review, and Introductory Call
Submit your application to the program. Applicants with active EQIP contracts will be contacted for a 30-minute introductory call to learn about your background, operation, and EQIP project.
Document Review and Holistic Evaluation
Submit supporting documentation for your project including a copy of your EQIP contract, project plans, and basic financial information. We conduct a holistic review, looking at the entirety of your goals and resources before making a loan approval decision. We will also reach out to your NRCS officer to discuss your project as part of our assessment and bridge loan structuring process.
Loan approval and funding disbursements
Once approved, loan funds will be disbursed directly to cover your project’s initial expenses, enabling you to start right away.
Loan Repayment
Repayment aligns with NRCS reimbursements, allowing you to repay the loan smoothly once you receive EQIP funds.
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Wendy Johnson, Jóia Food & Fiber Farm
The bridge loan assistance was very helpful in creating the cash flow flexibility my farm business needs without accruing high interest on an operating line of credit. As a small regenerative organic farmer, and due to the lack of scale, operating lines of credit are difficult to attain and cash flow can be tight in different times of the year. For example, in our farm business, spring time has much higher expenses than the fall and winter. Our NRCS contracts are usually not paid until the end of the year.
The bridge loan not only allowed increased flexibility but also allowed me to expand our farm business by purchasing grass-fed beef genetics when I was approached by the seller to purchase them, a relationship I have been growing for the last few years. Having a farm business that sits outside of commodities that have insurance guarantees, it is important to create relationships. I am finding this to be true across the regenerative agriculture sector, relationships are more important to a regenerative farm business’ success than simply transactions.
The bridge loan is a relational strategy that helps grow regenerative farm businesses long-term.
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Nadia Alber, Ducks in a Row Family Farm
Food System 6’s EQIP Bridge Loan Pilot Program has been a godsend for us! We would not have been able to move forward with our well drilling and livestock waterline EQIP project in a timely manner had we not qualified for this bridge loan. We were able to start right away last year and pay for the expensive deep well that had to be drilled before getting the rest of the water system set up this coming season. Thank you!
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Donna Isaacs, DeLaTerre Permaculture Farm
This bridge funding truly saved my farm. When a purchase arrangement unexpectedly fell through, we fell behind on implementing our NRCS EQIP practices. From prior experience, I knew that falling behind on required timelines can put an entire contract at risk.
On an earlier EQIP contract, I had completed several approved practices, but because cross-fencing was more than a year behind schedule, I received a registered letter requesting repayment of roughly $68,000 of the $77,000 contract. We were ultimately granted a short extension and finished the work, but the pressure and uncertainty were overwhelming.
For this current EQIP contract, the timely 0% bridge funding from FS6 allowed me to purchase all the materials I needed to catch up on my EQIP commitments. The team at Food System 6 was easy to work with, understood how critical timing is in farming, and made sure the funds were released quickly so we could get the work done before the season started. I’m deeply grateful for their support.