EQIP Program in Burnet 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).

Burnet County Office Information

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

Richard Cantu, District Conservationist

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

Objective

County Base Funds

The objective of the Burnet County EQIP  LWG is to promote the use of conservation practices for improving the natural resources throughout the county. The major resource concerns are Water Quantity and Water Quality.

County EQIP Resource Concerns:

In Burnet County for 2007, the LWG has identified the following resource concern as being the top priority for cost share assistance this year -

Brush Management for Ashe Juniper will be given High Priority for contract funding. Brush Management for Mesquite or Prickly Pear will be given Medium Priority, and other rangeland facilitating practices will be given Low Priority.  Controlling these species and improving overall rangeland condition will have a positive effect on Water Quantity and Water Quality.

Eligible Practices and Cost Share Rates:

County Base Fund

Limited Resource Producers -90 percent
Beginner Farmer/Rancher - 50 percent
All other Producers - 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.

Brush Management for Ashe Juniper will be given HIGH PRIORITY for contract funding. Brush Management for Mesquite or Prickly Pear will be given Medium Priority, and other rangeland facilitating practices will be given LOW PRIORITY. Controlling these species and improving overall rangeland condition will have a positive effect on Water Quantity and Water Quality.

Eligible Practices and Cost Share Rates:

County Base Fund

Limited Resource Producers -90 percent
Beginner Farmer/Rancher - 50 percent
All other Producers - 50 percent

Practices will be cost shared based on the established Average Cost(AC) 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.

Incentive practices will be paid on a Flat Rate(FR) basis ($/Ac).

Eligible Practices:

Brush Management(314)
Range Planting(550)
Pasture and Hay Planting(512)
Pipeline(516)
Watering Facility(614)
Pond(378),
Fencing(382)

Incentive Practice: Prescribed Grazing(528)

Practices not on the practice list are not eligible for cost share.

Ranking Criteria

Applications that are addressing more than 1 species of concern will be assigned the lower priority.

High Priority
Is the application only for Ashe Juniper control? 100 pts
Is the canopy cover of Ashe Juniper greater than 50 percent? 90 pts
Is the canopy cover of Ashe Juniper between 26 percent and 49 percent? 80 pts
Is the canopy cover of Ashe Juniper between 11 percent and 25 percent? 70 pts
Is the application for Ashe Juniper control and other facilitating practices? 60 pts

Medium Priority
Is the application only for Mesquite or Prickly Pear control? 95 pts
Is the canopy cover of Mesquite or Prickly Pear greater than 50 percent? 85 pts
Is the canopy cover of Mesquite or Prickly Pear between 26 percent and 49 percent? 75 pts
Is the canopy cover of Mesquite or Prickly Pear between 11 percent and 25 percent? 65 pts
Is the application for Mesquite or Prickly Pear control and other facilitating Practices? 55 pts

Low Priority
Is this application only for other facilitating practices? 50 pts

Other
Does this application include Prescribed Grazing as an incentive practice? 20 pts
Will a Resource Management System plan be developed for the entire operating unit? 25 pts
*All RMS plans will be developed and approved by the local SWCD by 9/30/07.
* Facilitating practices that are included with a brush management application can not make up more than 25 percent of the total contract dollars.
Ties will be broken by using a random number which will be assigned to each application.