Programs

Statewide No-Till Emphasis Areas - FY 2009

Program Information

In an effort to promote the use of no-till for crop production in Oklahoma, Local Emphasis Areas (LEA) have been created in several counties in Oklahoma. The no-till practice consists of managing crop residues on the soil surface year round while limiting soil disturbing activities to only those needed for the placement of nutrients, residue conditioning, and/or planting crops. This practice will be used to convert fields which are using full width tillage to no till/strip till systems. Payments for no-till practices will be made annually for three consecutive years after the no-till crop is planted. The annual payment(s) are subject to recovery if fields are not continuously no-tilled/strip-tilled for 4 consecutive years. A crop rotation with a minimum of two crops is strongly encouraged. Graze-out wheat is only allowed once within a three year period and must be immediately followed with a warm season crop or cover crop. No-till production crops has significant environmental benefits to the public, such as improved soil, water and air quality; and enhanced wildlife habitat.

Eighteen counties are offering the emphasis in 2009: Alfalfa, Beaver, Caddo, Canadian, Cimarron, Comanche, Custer, Dewey, Garfield, Grant, Greer, Harper, Logan, Major, Noble, Texas, Tillman, and Washita

Application Process, Eligibility and Evaluation Criteria

Applications will be accepted on a continuous basis, but only those received by April 1, 2009, will be considered for the initial selections. Applicants may apply by completing the NRCS-CPA-1200 Application Form and Appendix and submit it to their local NRCS Field Service Center.

The following document requires Adobe Acrobat.

EQIP Program Application (NRCS-CPA-1200) and Appendix (PDF; 34 KB)

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.

Eligible Practices and Payment Rates

The list of eligible conservation practices for EQIP contracts in the no-till emphasis areas is limited to the following practices and activities with the same payment rates as the current statewide EQIP practice payment rates for these scenarios.

Residue and Tillage Management No Till/Strip Till/Direct Seed (329.1) - REQUIRED
Conservation Crop Rotation/Utilizing Crop Rotations (328.1)
Conservation Crop Rotation/Severe Climate (328.2)
Cover Crop/Green Manure-Seasonal Cover Crop (340.1)
Deep Tillage/Ripping and Subsoiling (324.1)
Nutrient Management/Calibration Strips (590.4)
Nutrient Management/Precision Application (590.5)
Pest Management/Integrated Pest Management (595.3)
Pest Management/Crop Application System (595.4)

The following document requires Adobe Acrobat.

Statewide EQIP Practice Payment Rates (PDF; 977 KB)

State Program Contact

Richard Zetterberg
Resource Conservationist
Phone: 405-742-1208
Email: Richard Zetterberg

For additional information and assistance, contact your local NRCS Field Service Center.

Last Reviewed/Modified: 05/22/2009

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