EQIP Program in Foard County

Updated 11/28/2005

The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) offers cost share assistance to agricultural producers to implement on-farm conservation practices.  The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) determines eligible producers for the EQIP program and determines eligible land.  Eligible producers may apply for cost share assistance on conservation practices that will address the identified resource concern identified by the Local Work Group (LWG).

Foard County Office Information

Interested agricultural producers may apply in person at the Foard County USDA Service Center at 495 East Commerce in Crowell.
Applicants may also request EQIP assistance by telephone, FAX, e-mail, or letter. The office phone number is 940-684-1977, Ext. 3. Fax number is 940-684-1380. Emails can be sent to Stephanie Gray.

State Resource Concerns Priority Areas that include part of Foard County:

Objective:

County Base Funds
The objective of the Foard County EQIP Local Work Group is to promote the use of conservation practices to enhance cropland, rangeland, and pastureland resources.

Seymour Aquifer Special Emphasis Area
The objective of the Seymour Aquifer SEA is to increase water quantity in the underground aquifers.

County EQIP Resource Concern:

County Base Funds
The Primary Resource Concerns for Foard County is Grazingland Health and Erosion Control on Cropland.

Seymour Aquifer Special Emphasis Area
The Primary Resource Concern for this area is water quantity.

Eligible Practices and Cost Share Rates:

Cost Share Rates

Limited Resource Farmers and Ranchers - 90 percent
Beginning Farmers or Ranchers - 50 percent
All Others - 50 percent

Practices will be cost shared based on the established average cost of the practice. The amount of cost share earned will be the number of units certified after completion multiplied by the average cost multiplied by the cost share rate.

Cost sharing will be allowed for the following practices on a priority basis.

County Base Funds

High Priority Practices
Pasture Planting 512
Brush Management 314
Terraces 600
Diversions 362
Waterways 412

Medium Priority Practices
Water Well for Livestock 642
Livestock Water Pipeline 516
Pond 378
Cross fence 382

Low Priority Practices
Trough or Tank 614
All other practices not listed above.

Seymour Aquifer SEA

High Priority Practices
Irrigation Water Conveyance, Pipeline 430 ,installation of underground PVC pipeline
Irrigation System, Sprinkler Nozzle Upgrade 442

Medium Priority Practice
Irrigation System, Sprinkler 442 ,conversion of existing system to LEPA,LPIC,LESA, or MESA

Low Priority Practice
Irrigation System, Trickle 441
All other practices not listed above

Ranking Criteria:

County Base Funds

Points will be assigned based on the practice requested. Maximum points will not exceed 625.

Rootplowing or Grubbing and raking.Up to 125 ac.- 625 points
Two-way Chaining. Up to 1250 ac. - 625 points
Aerial Spraying. Up to 500 acres - 625 points
Pasture Planting. Up to 250 ac. - 625 points
Terraces. Up to 34,000 ft. - 625 points
Diversions. Up to 18,000 cy - 625 points
Waterways. Up to 10 ac. - 625 points

Livestock Water Supplies - 300 points
Document need based on NRCS Guidelines

Cross Fencing - 300 points
Minimum 4 strand barbed wire or 3 wire power

Trough or Tank - 150 pts.
Rootplowing or Grubbing and raking. Over 125 ac.- 150 points
Two-way Chaining. Over 1250 ac. - 150 points
Aerial Spraying. Over 500 acres - 150 points
Pasture Planting. Over 250 ac. - 150 points
Terraces. Over 34,000 ft. - 150 points
Diversions. Over 18,000 cy - 150 points
Waterways. Over 10 ac. - 150 points

Seymour Aquifer SEA

Points will be assigned based on priority of practice requested. Land must have been irrigated 2 out of the last 5 years. Existing system must be capable of providing at least 3 gallon per minute per acre.

Irrigation System, Sprinkler Nozzle Upgrade - 625 points
Irrigation Water Conveyance, PVC pipeline - 625 points

Irrigation System, Sprinkler ,conversion of existing system to LEPA, LIPIC,LESA, or MESA - 300 points

Irrigation System, Trickle - 150 points

< Back to EQIP