NRCS Announces Conservation Sign-Up

MORGANTOWN WV, November 16, 2006–The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is currently taking applications for four federal cost-share programs:

• Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)
• Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP)
• Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA)
• Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP)

Any eligible landowner in West Virginia may apply at local USDA Service Centers. Even though the sign-up for these programs is continuous, there is a ranking cut-off date. Farmers and landowners in West Virginia have until December 15, 2006 to submit applications to be considered for this round of EQIP and WHIP. March 2, 2007 is the cut off for AMA funding. WRP applications are reviewed as received.

EQIP is a conservation program for farmers who promote 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 agricultural land.

WHIP is a voluntary program to develop and improve wildlife habitat primarily on private land. Through WHIP, NRCS provides both technical assistance and up to 75 percent cost-share assistance to establish and improve wildlife habitat.

AMA provides cost-share assistance to agricultural producers to voluntarily address issues such as water management, water quality, and erosion control by incorporating conservation into their farming operations. AMA funding is still pending.

WRP offers landowners the opportunity to protect, restore, and enhance wetlands on their property through easements and restoration cost-share agreements.

Applications for these programs will be evaluated, ranked, and selected for available funding. Once each fiscal year's funding has been exhausted, eligible applications will remain on file for future consideration when additional funding becomes available. Conservation programs under the Farm Bill are voluntary and focus on a variety of natural resource concerns. The goal is to assist producers trying to conserve and protect natural resources on the nation's 1.3 billion acres of private working lands.

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/

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