The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) is a voluntary conservation program administered by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. It supports production agriculture and environmental quality as compatible goals. Through EQIP, farmers, ranchers, private forest land owners and Federally-recognized American Indian tribes may receive financial and technical assistance to implement structural and land management conservation practices on eligible agricultural land.

The Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) is a voluntary program designed to provide technical and financial assistance to landowners for the establishment and improvement of fish and wildlife habitat. Ranking criteria are used to select the applicants with a conservation plan that will create, enhance or protect wildlife habitat by types of wildlife habitat.

The Qualified Forest Property (Michigan Public Act 378 of 2006) exempts forest owners from paying school taxes up to 18 mils in each township. Landowners must have between 20 and 320 acres, no structures on the property, a management plan in place, and are legally bound to follow the prescriptions in the management plan.

The Commercial Forest Program provides a property tax reduction to private landowners as an incentive to retain and manage forestland for long-term timber production. Landowners participating in this program pay a reduced property tax. Additionally, the State of Michigan pays $1.20 per acre annually to each county where land is listed in the program.

The Landowner Incentive Program (LIP) is a voluntary program to encourage private landowners to conserve habitat for rare and declining wildlife species.

The Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) is a voluntary program for the restoration and protection of wetlands on private property. Technical and financial assistance is provided in return for placing a conservation easement on the property either permanently or for a period of 30 years. Financial assistance is provided to landowners for restoration and enhancement practices that are implemented on the WRP easement.

The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) is a voluntary program for agricultural landowners to improve water quality, control soil erosion, and enhance wildlife habitat. Through CRP, you can receive annual rental payments and cost-share assistance to establish long-term, resource conserving covers on eligible farmland.

The Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP) provides financial assistance to owners and operators of agricultural and non-industrial private forest land who wish to establish, produce, and deliver biomass feedstocks.

The Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) provides financial and technical assistance for eligible producers to conserve and enhance soil, water, air, and related natural resources on their land. Eligible lands include cropland, grassland, prairie land, improved pastureland, rangeland, non-industrial private forest lands, agricultural land under the jurisdiction of an Indian tribe, and other private agricultural land on which resource concerns related to agricultural production could be addressed. Participation in the program is voluntary.