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EQIP Program in Tom Green County
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).
Tom Green
County Office Information
Interested agricultural producers may apply in person at the
Tom Green County USDA Service Center. Applicants may also request
EQIP
assistance by telephone, Fax, e-mail, or letter.
State Resource Concerns Priority Areas that include part of
Tom Green County:
Objective:
The objectives of the Tom Green County EQIP Local Work Group are to promote
the wise use of conservation practices for improving the natural resources of
the County. A meeting of the Local Work Group identified the following resource
concern - Water Quantity
County EQIP Resource Concern:
Water Quantity was selected as the highest priority concern for Tom Green
County. Brush Management will be given the highest priority for funding.
Priority for Funding:
Brush Management Both Chemical and Mechanical
High Priority
Brush
Management acreage must be located outside of an approved State Brush Control
Watershed. Exception: Pecan Creek Watershed
Prickly Pear, Cedar or Mesquite - 100 points
Prescribed Grazing Incentive - 30 points
Irrigation Practices
Medium Priority
Convert surface irrigation or antiquated high pressure sprinkler systems1/ to
LEPA center pivot = 75 points
Convert surface irrigation or antiquated high pressure sprinkler systems to
micro irrigation = 75 points
Convert surface irrigation or antiquated high pressure sprinkler systems to LESA
center pivot = 70 points
Convert surface irrigation or antiquated high pressure sprinkler systems to LPIC
center pivot = 65 points
Convert surface irrigation or antiquated high pressure sprinkler systems to MESA
center pivot = 60 points
Convert LEPA, LPIC, or MESA center pivots to micro irrigation = 40 points
Facilitating Practices:
Irrigation Pipeline = 20 points
Irrigation Regulating Reservoir = 20 points
LEPA - Low Energy Precision Application. Land slope <1 percent on more than 50
percent of field. Drop heights not to exceed 18 inches. Applicable only to row
crops.
LESA - Low Elevation Spray Application. Land slope <3 percent on more than 50
percent of field. Drop heights not to exceed 18 inches.
LPIC - Low Pressure in Canopy. Land slope <3 percent on more than 50 percent of
field. Drop heights not to generally range from 12 inches from ground, depending
on crop.
MESA - Mid-Elevation Spray Application. Drop heights typically 3 to 7 feet above
ground with water applied above crop.
1/If multiple methods are needed to treat acres in this application, points will
be awarded based on the lowest point treatment. If facilitated practices are
utilized in conjunction with the above irrigation systems facilitated practice
points will not be added towards the ranking score
1/Antiquated high pressure sprinkler systems are defined as siderolls, hand move
or big gun systems or any system that requires an operating pressure greater
than 25 p.s.i
Eligible Practices and Cost Share Rates:
Limited Resource Producers - 90 percent
Beginning Farmers/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 will be the number of units certified after
completion multiplied by the average cost multiplied by the cost share
percentage.
Cost sharing will be allowed for the following practices as identified in the
Field Office Technical Guide.
Brush Management For cost share consideration, this practice must significantly
contribute to the control of Invasive Plant Species according to NRCS
specifications and guidelines.
Brush Management 314
High Priority
Chemical control - aerial, mesquite and pricklypear - Average cost
Chemical control - aerial, mesquite or pricklypear - Average cost
Chemical control - Individual Plant Treatment - Average cost
Mechanical control - treedozing, grubbing, excavating etc. - Average cost
Mechanical or Chemical control - 11 to 20 percent density - Average cost
Prescribed Grazing 528A - Flat Rate
Irrigation System, Sprinkler 442 – Average Cost
Medium Priority
Irrigation Pipeline 430 – Average Cost
Medium Priority
Irrigation Regulating Reservoir 552
Medium Priority
Irrigation System, Sprinkler 442 LEPA Conversion - Average cost
Irrigation System, Sprinkler 442 LESA Conversion - Average cost
Irrigation System, Sprinkler 442 LPIC Conversion - Average cost
Irrigation System, Sprinkler 442 MESA Conversion - Average cost
Irrigation System, Trickle 441
Medium Priority
Irrigation System, Trickle 441 30 inch Spacing - Average cost
Irrigation System, Trickle 441 40 inch Spacing - Average cost
Irrigation System, Trickle 441 60 inch Spacing - Average cost
Irrigation System, Trickle 441 80 inch Spacing - Average cost
Irrigation System, Trickle 441 120 inch Spacing - Average cost
Ranking Criteria:
Screening Criteria
1. Are the conservation practices to be installed either Brush Management or
Irrigation Yes or No
If no, stop the application will be assigned a low priority.
If yes, continue with question 2
2. Is the application acres located outside of an approved State Brush Control
Watershed
Exception: Pecan Creek Watershed Yes or No
If yes, stop the application will be assigned a high priority.
If No, go to question 3 Secondary Concerns
3. Is the conservation practice to be installed related to improve existing
irrigation efficiency Yes or No
If yes, stop the application will be assigned a medium priority.
If no, stop the application will be assigned a low priority.
Only High Priority applications will be ranked initially. If funds remain
following High Priority scoring, then medium priority will be ranked.
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