Announcement of EQIP Manure Transfer Resource Concerns Fund Availability

Contact: Jasper Parker, 405-742-1243

Stillwater, Oklahoma Nov. 18, 2005—The USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announces the availability of funds for a statewide Manure Transfer Resource Concerns incentives opportunity through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). The statewide Manure Transfer Resource Concerns, is a continuation of a special project for Oklahoma from last fiscal year, designated by M. Darrel Dominick, state conservationist, and is again being funded by 2006 EQIP funds at the state level. The project has two primary objectives. The first objective is to create an incentive to distribute animal manure to areas of the state that have historically not used animal manure as a source of plant nutrients. This has the potential to reduce animal manure application in areas where it has traditionally been applied at levels in excess of plant production needs. The second objective is the promotion of a long-term market for animal manure as a source of plant nutrients around the state to promote better distribution of these nutrients.

This project is intended to fund only incentive payments for up to three years for the hauling and proper application of animal manure under an EQIP contract. The three years do not have to be consecutive. High priority animal manure source areas will be those areas identified as Nutrient Limited Waters (NLW) and Oklahoma’s Scenic River watersheds. The incentives will provide for the transfer and proper application of animal manure from these highly sensitive watersheds to areas that traditionally have not utilized animal manure as a fertilizer. Only individuals that have not purchased or applied animal manure on land they own or otherwise managed in the past three years are eligible to participate in these incentives.

Applications will be taken on a continuous sign-up basis and high priority applications, based on specific statewide ranking criteria, will be selected for funding from a statewide pool. Your local NRCS Field Service Center will begin accepting applications immediately. Only applications received by December 30, 2005, will be ranked and considered during this initial application ranking and selection period. Applications after that date will continue to be evaluated and maintained for possible future funding. Successful applicants will be notified after March 1, 2006, for eventual contract development until the available funds are obligated. All successful applicants will be required to develop, implement, and maintain a nutrient management plan (NMP) during their individual EQIP contract period. For details about the program, contact your local NRCS Field Service Center.

All programs and services of the Natural Resources Conservation Service are provided in a nondiscriminatory manner.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or a part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

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