NRCS Announces $5.8 Million for Conservation Cost share Program

Morgantown, WV January 4, 2005—USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has received $5.8 million in financial assistance funds for the 2005 Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) in West Virginia. EQIP is a voluntary conservation program for farmers and ranchers that promotes agricultural production and environmental quality as compatible goals. EQIP offers financial and technical help to assist eligible participants install or implement structural and management practices on eligible agricultural land. In 2004, funding was available for 537 applications, totaling $6,827,100.

EQIP has a continuous sign-up process for applicants. The first cutoff date for selecting new applications is January 28, 2005. The second cutoff date is set for April 8, 2005.

Ranking periods are established and all applications received before the ranking period cutoff date are evaluated and ranked according to local ranking criteria. The ranking criteria is developed locally by a group of representatives of local, state, and federal agencies with input from local farm organizations. The highest ranked applications are selected for funding with the dollars available. Applications selected to receive cost-share funds will be notified by NRCS. Applications received after the cutoff date are held for ranking in the next ranking period. Producers who have not yet applied should visit their local county NRCS office.

The highest funding priorities are conservation systems that reduce soil erosion, improve storage and management of animal manure and fertilizers, and improve aquatic habitat.

EQIP offers contracts with a minimum term that ends one year after the implementation of the last scheduled practices and a maximum term of ten years. These contracts provide incentive payments and cost-shares to implement conservation practices. Persons who are engaged in livestock or agricultural production on eligible land may participate in the EQIP program. EQIP activities are carried out according to a conservation plan of operations developed in conjunction with the producer that identifies the appropriate conservation practice or practices to address the resource concerns. The practices are subject to NRCS technical standards adapted for local conditions.

For more information, please contact your local USDA Service Center, listed in the telephone book under U.S. Department of Agriculture, or your local conservation district. Information also is available on the World Wide Web at: http://www.wv.nrcs.usda.gov/