NRCS Announces Opportunity to Apply for EQIP Conservation Funds

STILLWATER, OK— Oklahoma NRCS State Conservationist Ron Hilliard has announced an extension of the EQIP ranking cutoff period to April 1, 2009. This will expand the opportunity for producers to apply for conservation payments under the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) for fiscal year 2009. New rules have been under development for the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, or 2008 Farm Bill. With the publication of the interim final rule, 2009 program activities can now be initiated.

On January 15, 2009, Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer announced changes to EQIP, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's largest conservation program for working agricultural lands. USDA published an interim final rule containing the statutory changes to EQIP in the Federal Register. USDA is seeking public comment on the rule through March 16, 2009.

USDA-NRCS administers EQIP, a voluntary conservation program that provides technical assistance and payments to help crop and livestock producers address environmental concerns through conservation improvements on agricultural and non-industrial private forest lands. Farmers and ranchers can use EQIP to farm in an environmentally friendly manner and still meet their agricultural production goals. It is designed to produce significant environmental benefits to the public, such as improved soil, water and air quality; and enhanced wildlife habitat. In addition, farmers and ranchers use EQIP to meet federal, state, tribal and local environmental regulations.

Under the amended EQIP, socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers as well as beginning and limited resource producers are authorized to receive payments of up to 90 percent of the costs of installing or implementing a conservation practice.

The 2008 Farm Bill reduced the overall payment limitation from $450,000 to $300,000 for a six-year period, except for environmentally significant projects.

In order to be eligible to participate in EQIP, an applicant must be in compliance with Highly Erodible Land and Wetland Conservation provisions, have an interest in the agricultural operation, and have control of the land for the proposed contract period. If the applicant is a tenant, written concurrence of the landowner is required to apply a structural conservation practice. Legal entities that apply for the program must provide a list of all members of the legal entity and embedded entities along with members’ percentage interest in the operation. Potential applicants are encouraged to update their USDA eligibility at the Farm Service Agency (FSA) prior to making application for EQIP. EQIP applications will not be ranked or considered for funding until the applicant meets all eligibility requirements.

“We are accepting applications for participation in the EQIP program on a continuous basis,” adds Hilliard. “However, only applications received by April 1, 2009 will be ranked and considered during this expanded selection period.” Evaluated applications will be grouped and selected for funding from a list of high priority applications until the funding allocation is obligated. Unfunded applications will be maintained for future funding consideration if the applicant chooses to remain on the waiting list. Successful applicants with high priority resource concerns will be contacted to develop contracts to obligate the current funding allocation. Producers that have high priority resource concerns and are interested in participation in EQIP may apply at any time at local NRCS Field Service Centers.

All programs and services of the Natural Resources Conservation Service are provided in a nondiscriminatory manner. NRCS is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

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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