2009 Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)

Farmers, livestock producers and other landowners can now take advantage of the conservation practices available through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) by applying for the program at their local Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) office, but they must do so by Friday October 31, 2008 to be considered in the first ranking pool. The deadline for the second ranking pool will be announced soon, however applications will be taken on a continuous basis.

EQIP is a cost-share program that helps landowners and operators install conservation practices on cropland, grazing lands and forested lands. Practices available for cost-share that you may be interested in include:

Pasture/Grazingland -
Fence
Heavy Use Area Protection
Pasture & Hay Planting
Watering Facility
Legume planting in pasture
Pipeline

Forestry -
Firebreak
Forest Stand Improvement
Conversions to forest
Prescribed Burning
Pre-commercial Thinning
Reforestation

Poultry -
Composting Facility
Waste Storage Facility
Waste Utilization
CNMP Development

On a statewide basis, we have over 50 conservation practices that agricultural producers can sign up for right now. We have cost sharing assistance for practices from fencing to pipedrops and from ag waste facilities to underground irrigation pipelines. EQIP offers many practices to help farmers and livestock producers install conservation on farms. We are encouraging applicants to come by our offices, the USDA Field Offices which serve the Dugdemona SWCD are located in either Ruston, Columbia, or Natchitoches Louisiana. Please come by for more detailed information on the program in Caldwell, Jackson and Winn Parishes.

Every application will be ranked according to total environmental benefits derived from the implementation of conservation practices and the best will be funded. NRCS evaluates each application using a state and locally developed evaluation process. High priorities are given to applications that encourage the use of cost-effective conservation practices, address state and national conservation priorities and optimize environmental benefits.

EQIP helps producers through cost sharing and incentive payments for the implementation of conservation practices. All EQIP activities must be carried out according to a conservation plan of operations developed by the producer, NRCS and in cooperation with the Dugdemona Soil and Water Conservation District.

The supervisors of the Soil and Water Conservation Districts realize that EQIP, and the cost sharing that goes along with it, can make a big difference for producers in Caldwell, Jackson and Winn Parishes and we want to help them as much as possible. EQIP has the potential of making a great impact on our local natural resources and we want all producers to take a good look at this opportunity.

Individuals qualifying as beginning farmers or limited-resource farmers may be eligible for a greater payment rate than other producers.

Incentive payments may be made to encourage a producer to adopt land management practices such as nutrient management, manure management, integrated pest management, irrigation water management and shallow water management for wildlife, or to develop a Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan.

New practices offered this year include protection for animal feeding areas and reforestation in addition to other beneficial land practices. For more information on the Environmental Quality Incentives Program and how it may help you and your operation, call

(318) 649-2651 ext. 3 for Caldwell Parish
(318) 255-3136 ext. 3 for Jackson Parish
(318) 357-8366 ext. 3 for Winn Parish

or the Dugdemona Soil and Water Conservation District Office at

(318) 628-4438

All programs and services of the U.S. Department of Agriculture are offered on a nondiscriminatory basis without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, marital status, or disability.