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EQIP Program in Gaines 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).

Gaines County Office Information

Interested agricultural producers may apply in person at the Gaines County USDA Service Center. Applicants may also request EQIP assistance by telephone, Fax, e-mail, or letter.

Darren Richardson, District Conservationist

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

Specific State Concern State Resource Concern
AFO-CAFO -Poultry  Water Quality/Air Quality
AFO-CAFO -Swine  Water Quality/Air Quality
AFO-CAFO-Beef  Water Quality/Air Quality
AFO-CAFO -Dairy  Water Quality/Air Quality
Salt Cedar Invasive Species
Panhandle Lesser Prairie chicken/Black-Tailed Prairie Dog Wildlife
Limited Resource Farmer or Rancher All

Objective:

Base Fund Allocation

The objective of the Gaines County EQIP Local Work Group is to promote the use of conservation practices for improving the natural resources throughout the county. Some of the major resource concerns are soil erosion, water quality, water quantity and grazing lands health.

Ogallala Ground and Surface Water Fund Allocation

The objective of the Gaines County EQIP Local Work Group is to ensure the conservation of ground water by promoting its wise and efficient use by producers through installation of water-saving conservation practices.

County EQIP Resource Concern:

Base Fund Allocation
High Priority

Soil Erosion - Provide assistance for the conversion of highly erodible cropland to permanent vegetation

Medium Priority

Water Quality - Provide assistance to protect the quality of the ground water of the Ogallala aquifer

Low Priority

All other resource concerns - All other local resource concerns not identified in the High or Medium categories will be considered as low priority for 2006

Ogallala Ground and Surface Water Fund Allocation

The Gaines County Local Work Group identified Water Quantity as the major resource concern for Ogallala Ground and Surface Water funding.

Eligible Practices and Cost Share Rates:

County Base Funds
High Priority - Erosion:
  • Range Planting 550 - Establishment of a native grass mix comprised of at least three separate species.
  • Pasture Planting 512 - Establishment of a site-suited introduced grass species.

Medium Priority – Water Quality:
  • Irrigation Water Management 449 - Installations of irrigation water flowmeters and/or chemigation valves not associated with a new or converted irrigation sprinkler system.
Low Priority – Address all other local resource concerns not identified in High or Medium Priority categories which have associated practices included on the Gaines County 2006 EQIP cost list.
Ground and Surface Water Funds
High Priority - Conversion of an existing center pivot sprinkler system to a higher efficiency sprinkler system
  • Irrigation System, Sprinkler 442 - Installation of LEPA, LESA, LPIC or MESA sprinkler package conversions on existing sprinkler systems according to NRCS specifications. May also include installation of chemigation anti-backflow valves and irrigation water flowmeters.

Medium Priority - Conversion of side roll, solid set, hand move or water drive sprinkler irrigation systems to a higher efficiency center pivot sprinkler system or microirrigation system
  
  • Irrigation System, Sprinkler 442 - Installation of a new sprinkler irrigation system according to NRCS standards and specifications for LEPA, LESA, LPIC or MESA systems. This practice is applicable only to cropland acreage with irrigation history. May also include installation of chemigation anti-backflow valves and irrigation water flowmeters.

  • Irrigation System, Microirrigation 441 - Installation of a microirrigation system according to NRCS specifications. This practice is applicable only to cropland acreage with irrigation history. May also include installation of chemigation anti-backflow valves and irrigation water flowmeters.

Low Priority – Other irrigation practices
  • Irrigation Water Conveyance Pipeline, Underground, Plastic 430
  • Irrigation System, Microirrigation 441- Replacement of a pivot system > 20 years old
  • Irrigation Water Management 449 - Incentive based practice
Cost-Share Rates:
  • All practices other than incentive type practices will be cost-shared based on the established costs in the 2006 Gaines County EQIP Cost Share List. 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 percentage. Incentive practices will be cost-shared based on an established flat rate per acre with additional flat rate amounts for installation of required components.
Ogallala Ground and Surface Water Funds and County Base Funds
  • Limited Resource Farmers and Ranchers - 90 percent
  • Beginning Farmers and Ranchers - 50 percent
  • All Others - 50 percent

Ranking Criteria:

Base Fund Allocation
High Priority
  • Range or Pasture Planting = 100 Points
     
Medium Priority
  • Irrigation Water Management - Installation of chemigation anti-backflow valves or flowmeters = 75 Points
Low Priority
  • Brush Management = 50 Points
  • Livestock Water Facilities = 40 Points
  • Fencing = 30 Points
  • All other practices = 10 Points
Ogallala Ground and Surface Water Fund Allocation
High Priority
  • Conversion to LEPA sprinkler system = 100 Points
  • Conversion to LESA sprinkler system = 90 Points
  • Conversion to LPIC sprinkler system = 80 Points
  • Conversion to MESA sprinkler system = 70 Points
Medium Priority
  • New Microirrigation System = 65 Points
  • New LEPA sprinkler system = 60 Points
  • New LESA sprinkler system = 55 Points
  • New LPIC sprinkler system = 50 Points
  • New MESA sprinkler system = 45 Points

Low Priority
  • Irrigation Pipeline = 40 Points
  • Replacement of sprinkler system older than 20 years with a new Microirrigation system = 30 Points
  • Irrigation Water Management with soil moisture monitoring and irrigation scheduling = 20 Points

Note - In the event of a tie, a 12 digit computer generated number will serve as the tie-breaker. Practices which are not on the Dawson County EQIP cost-share list are not eligible for cost-share or incentive payments.

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