EQIP Program in Knox 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).
Interested agricultural producers may apply in person at the
Knox 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
Knox County:
Objective:
County Base Fund
The objective of Knox County Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)
Local Work Group (LWG) is to promote the use of conservation practices for
improving the natural resources throughout the county.
Seymour Aquifer Special Emphasis Area
The objective of Knox County Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)
Local Work Group (LWG) is to promote the use of conservation practices for
improving the natural resources throughout the county with the major emphasis on
water quantity.
County EQIP Resource Concern:
County Base Fund
In Knox County for EQIP 2007, the LWG has identified Water Quality and Plant
Health as the major resource concern.
Seymour Aquifer Special Emphasis Area
In Knox County for EQIP 2007 SEA, the Local Work Group has identified water
quantity as the major resource concern.
Eligible Practices and Cost Share Rates:
County Base Fund
In Knox County for EQIP the LWG has identified the
following eligible practices for cost share: Pasture and Range Planting, Wells,
Water Storage Facilities, Pipelines, Ponds, Fencing, Terraces, and Waterways.
Limited Resource Producers - 90 percent
Beginner Farmer or Rancher - 50 percent
All other Producers - 50 percent
Cost share will be practice based according to average cost.
All practices must meet or exceed the requirements of the NRCS Field Office
Technical Guide.
All cost shared practices must be maintained for their expected life span.
No partial payments will be paid. Invoices are required for all completed work.
Seymour Aquifer Special Emphasis Area
In Knox County for EQIP the local workgroup has identified the following
eligible practices for cost share:
Irrigation Pipeline 430 EE/DD - Includes all appurtenances
Irrigation System, Sprinkler 442
Conversion of a pivot with less than 80 percent efficiency to greater than 80
percent efficiency. Must meet LESA, LPIC, or MESA.
Irrigation System, Trickle 441
Limited Resource Producers - 90 percent
Beginner Farmer or Rancher - 50 percent
All other Producers - 50 percent
Cost share will be practice based according to average cost.
All cost shared practices must be maintained for their expected life span.
No partial payments will be paid. Invoices are required for all completed work.
Ranking Criteria:
Applications will be ranked using the national ranking tool and points will be
awarded according to how your application addresses the National, State, and
Local issues along with the cost efficiency of the of the practice needed to
solve the resource concern.
Application will be ranked according to amount of points from highest to lowest
until funds are exhausted. Ranking ties will be broken by using ProTracts Random
Number.
County Base Fund
Ranking will be by predominance of planned practices.
High Priority
100 Points – Does the predominance of planned cost share practices
address water quality resource concern?
Practices that address water quality include: Terrace/Waterway systems and
Pasture Planting.
75 Points – Does the predominance of planned cost share practices address plant
health resource concern?
Practices that address plant health include: Water Development, Range Seeding,
and Cross Fencing.
Applications for which a conservation plan has been developed for the entire
operating unit or the producer has agreed to have a plan developed in FY 2007
will receive an additional 10 points.
Priority None -
All other practices - 0 points
Seymour Aquifer Special Emphasis Area
High Priority
Convert Sideroll system to Center Pivot > 80 percent efficiency and with drops
36 inches or less above ground, or Drip System. (Pipeline included if needed) –
100 points
Convert Furrow system to Center Pivot > 80 percent efficiency and with drops 36
inches or less above ground, or Drip System. (Pipeline included if needed) – 75
points
Reorganize irrigation pipeline system. – 50 points
Convert existing pivot to a system that has an efficiency of 80 percent or
greater with drops that are 36 inches or less above the ground pivot conversion.
– 25 points
Applications for which a conservation plan has been developed for the entire
operating unit or the producer has agreed to have a plan developed in FY 2007
will receive an additional 10 points.
Priority None -
All other practices - 0 points
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