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EQIP Program in Fayette 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).

Fayette County Office Information

Interested agricultural producers may apply in person at the Fayette 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 Fayette 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
South Central Texas Water Quality
Limited Resource Farmer or Rancher All

Objective:

The objectives of the Fayette County Local Work Group LWG is to promote the use of conservation practices for improving the natural resources throughout the county. Some of the major resource concerns reviewed were Water Quality, Water Quantity, Soil Erosion and Wildlife Habitat.

County EQIP Resource Concern:

In Fayette County for 2006, the LWG has identified Water Quality as being the top priority for cost share assistance this year. Grazing management was recognized as the primary reason for the loss of water quality due to sedimentation from over grazing. To improve grazing management, practices such as Prescribed Grazing, Fencing, and Watering Facilities are needed. As a secondary and tertiary concern the need for Brush Management and Pasture and Range Planting were also recognized.

Priority for Funding:

Primary Concern - Water Quality

High Priority

The following High Priority practices will be eligible for cost share.

  • Internal Cross Fencing 382
  • Prescribed Burning 338
  • Ponds 378
  • Livestock Pipelines 516
  • Troughs 614
  • Critical Area Planting 342
  • Prescribed Grazing 528A Incentive

    Medium Priority

    The following Medium Priority practices will be considered for cost-share should any funds remain available after all of the High Priority practices have been funded.
  • Brush Management 314
  • Chemical – broadcast, basal, or IPT
  • Mechanical – grubbing, treedoze, or rootplowing

  • Supporting practices Range Seeding 550, Pasture Planting 512, Nutrient Management 590, and Pest Management 595 are eligible for cost share if required following mechanical brush management.

    Low Priority

    The following Low Priority practices will be considered for cost-share should any funds remain available after all of the Medium Priority practices have been funded -
  • Range Seeding 550 on converted cropland only.
  • Pasture Planting 512 on converted cropland only.

  • Supporting practices Nutrient Management 590 and Pest Management 595 are eligible for cost share if required for establishment
     

    Eligible Practices and Cost Share Rates:

    Needs for practices will be based on NRCS guidelines.

    Fence 382
    Prescribed Burning 338
    Ponds 378
    Pipeline 516
    Trough 614
    Critical Area Planting 342
    Prescribed Grazing 528

    Incentive for rotational grazing system (528 Prescribed Grazing) used only in conjunction with practices 382, 378, 516, or 614

    Brush Management 314 – both chemical and mechanical

    The following supporting practices may be eligible for cost share when mechanical brush management is done and more than 25 percent of existing grass is destroyed, Range seeding 550, Pasture Planting 512, Nutrient Management 590, and Pest Management 595.

    Range Seeding 550 on converted cropland only
    Pasture Planting 512 on converted cropland only.

    Supporting practices Nutrient Management 590 and Pest Management 595 are eligible for cost share if required for establishment.

    Cost-share percentages
    Limited Resource Farmers and Ranchers = 90 percent
    All Others (Including Beginning Farmers and Ranchers) = 50 percent.

    Ranking Criteria:

    High Priority

    The following High Priority practices will be eligible for cost-share: Fence (382), Ponds (378), Livestock Pipeline (516), Troughs (614), Critical Area Planting (342), and Prescribed Burning (338). Prescribed Grazing (528 Incentive only) will be required if points are taken for items 1, 2, or 3. Points will be awarded based on the needs of the land as per NRCS Field Office Tech Guide

    1. Cross Fencing Only
      Does the area have adequate water sources and require cross fencing only in order to install a rotation grazing system? (Yes) (No)

    2. Water Facilities Only – Pond, Pipeline, or Trough
      Does the area have adequate cross fencing but requires dependable water sources in order to install a rotation grazing system - pond, pipeline, or trough? (Yes) (No)
    3. Water Facilities Pond, Pipeline, Trough and Fencing
      Does the area require both cross fencing and the development of water facilities in order to develop a rotational grazing system? (Yes) (No)

    4. Water Facility
      Is the area  continuously grazed but lacks dependable watering facilities to distribute grazing? (Yes) (No)

      Multiple Benefits

      If points are scored in either items 1, 2, or 3, additional points can be added for any of the following multiple benefits that are applicable. Points awarded for item 4 above are eligible for multiple benefits - item 5 only.

    5. Will pond be installed on a critically eroded area gully? (Yes) (No)

    6. Will the installation of ponds or troughs serve more than one pasture? (Yes) (No)

    7. Will fences installed separate native pastures from improved pastures? (Yes) (No)
    Medium Priority

    The following Medium Priority practice will be considered for cost-share should any funds remain available after all of the High priority practices have been funded: Brush Management (314) Chemical (broadcast, basal, or IPT) and mechanical). Pasture Planting (512) or Range Seeding (550) may be required on mechanical if more than 25% of existing grass is destroyed. Points will be awarded based on the needs of the land as per NRCS Field Office Tech Guide

    Treatment means – Chemical

    Invasion of Woody Vegetation
     
    1. Is the species in need of control  present in amounts of 50 - 150 plants per acre? (Yes) (No)

    2. Is the species in need of control  present in amounts of 151 to 250 plants per acre? (Yes) (No)

    3. Is the species in need of control  present in amounts of 251 to 350 plants per acre? (Yes) (No)

    4. Is the species in need of control  present in amounts of >350 plants per acre? (Yes) (No)

      Treatment means – Mechanical

      Invasion of Woody Vegetation
    5. Is the species in need of control  present in amounts of 50 - 150 plants per acre?

    6. Is the species in need of control  present in amounts of 151 to 250 plants per acre?

    7. Is the species in need of control  present in amounts of 251 to 350 plants per acre?

    8. Is the species in need of control  present in amounts of >350 plants per acre

    Low Priority

    The following Low Priority practice will be considered for cost-share should any funds remain available after all of the Medium priority practices have been funded: Range Seeding (550) and Pasture Planting(512) on converted cropland only. Supporting practices Nutrient Management (590) and Pest Management (595) are eligible for cost share if required for establishment. Points will be awarded based on the needs of the land as per NRCS Field Office Tech Guide

    Soil Erosion –
    1. Are the tons of soil saved per acre with establishment of permanent grass cover greater than 3T? (Yes) (No)

    2. Are the tons of soil saved per acre with establishment of permanent grass cover greater than 2T? (Yes) (No)

    3. Are the tons of soil saved per acre with establishment of permanent grass cover greater than T? (Yes) (No)

    Screening Tool:

    1. Have you been an agricultural producer two out of the last five years and generated at least $1,000 or more in agricultural products produced and sold, or normally would have been sold in each of those years?
      Yes
      No

    2. Does the property being applied for have boundary fences capable of containing domestic livestock?
      Yes
      No

    3. Is the area currently being grazed by domestic livestock?
      Yes
      No

    4. Does the area being grazed contain sufficient quantities of grass like species to support domestic livestock year long?
      Yes
      No

    5. Do you want to convert existing cropland to permanent grassland?
      Yes
      No

    6. Do you have a brush management problem that requires chemical (broadcast, basal, or individual plant treatment) or mechanical means to control?
      Yes
      No

    7. Do the pastures to be considered lack adequate internal cross fences and/or livestock watering facilities?
      Yes
      No

    8. Is a rotational grazing system currently being utilized or would you be willing to install one if adequate cross fencing and livestock watering facilities were available?
      Yes, sign on applicant line
      No, sign on applicant line

    Once the application is screened and identified to be in a specific category, the applications in the highest category will be evaluated and ranked.
    If there are more funds available than needed for the applications in the highest category, applications in the second highest category will be evaluated and ranked, and so on, until all funds are allocated.
    Applications in any lower category, evaluated or ranked, will be deferred until the next fiscal year.

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