EQIP Program in Karnes 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).

Karnes County Office Information

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

Larry Stark, District Conservationist

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

Objective:

The objective of the Karnes County Environmental Quality Incentives Program EQIP Local Work Group is to promote the use of conservation practices based on sound resource management system planning for improving the natural resources throughout the county.

County EQIP Resource Concern:

In Karnes County for 2007, the Local Work Group has identified the following resource concerns as being their top priorities.

Plant Condition
Soil Condition
Soil Erosion
Water Quantity
Domestic Animals

Priority for Funding:

No Priorities Based on Resource Concern. See Ranking for High, Medium, and Low Priority based on level of planning and treatment.

Eligible Practices and Cost Share Rates:

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 earned will be the number of units certified after completion, not to exceed the planned units multiplied by the average cost, multiplied by the cost share percentage.

For cost share consideration, these practices must be needed to significantly impact one or more of the resource concerns listed above according to NRCS specifications and guidelines.

Cost sharing will be allowed for the following practices as identified in the Field Office Technical Guide

Brush Management 314
(Mechanical - Pasture and Hayland Planting 512 or Range Seeding 550 will be required including Nutrient Management 590 and Pest Management 595 for establishment.)
Pasture and Hayland Planting 512
Range Seeding 550
Nutrient Management 590, Fertilizer for Seeding/Sprigging N,P,K
Nutrient Management 590 - Flat Rate Incentive Payment
Pest Management 595 - Flat Rate Incentive Payment
Prescribed Grazing System 528 - Flat Rate Incentive Payment
Prescribed Burning 338, Single Fireguard
Fence 382
Well 642
Pipeline 516
Watering Facility 614
Pond 378
Critical Area Planting 342
Grade Stabilization Structure 410
Filter Strips 393
Field Borders 386
Contour Buffer Strips 332
Diversion Terrace 362
Terraces - Parallel 600
Terraces - Standard 600
Grassed Waterway 412, including shaping
Crop Residue Management 344 - Flat Rate Incentive Payment

Ranking Criteria:

High Priority
Practices checked on the practice list sheet are part of a higher level of land treatment plan that is existing or planned to address all resource concerns (SWAPA) at a Resource
Management System level (RMS) on this operating unit and practices are scheduled to be applied in order needed to achieve proper resource management.

Medium Priority
Practices checked on the practice list sheet are part of a progressive level of land treatment plan that is existing or planned but Do Not address all resource concerns (SWAPA) at a
resource management system level on this operating unit or not being applied according to RMS plan priority.

Low Priority
Practices checked on the practice list sheet are not part of any land treatment plan and Do Not address the resource concerns (SWAPA) at even a progressive level of treatment.