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EQIP Program in Lamb 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).

Lamb County Office Information

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

Gerald A. McMasters, RTL, Plainview
Kerry C. Weinheimer, District Conservationist

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

Specific State Concern State Resource Concern
AFO-CAFO -Poultry  Water Quality/Air Quality
AFO-CAFO -Swine  Water Quality/Air Quality
AFO-CAFO -Dairy Water Quality/Air Quality
AFO-CAFO-Beef   Water Quality/Air Quality
Salt Cedar Invasive Species
Panhandle Lesser Prairie chicken/Black-Tailed Prairie Dog Wildlife
Limited Resource Farmer or Rancher All

Objective:

The objective of the Lamb County EQIP Local Work Group is to promote the use of needed conservation practices for improving the natural resources throughout the county with major emphasis on reducing soil erosion and improving water quantity through increased irrigation efficiency.

County EQIP Resource Concern:

In Lamb County for 2007, the Local Work Group (LWG) has identified Water Quantity and Soil Erosion as the major resource concerns.

Priority for Funding:

Base Allocation Funds
  • High Priority Resource Concern is Soil Erosion

    • Erosion control practices are -
    Parallel Terraces, Basin Terraces, Diversions, Waterways, Pasture Planting, Range Seeding and Brush Management (aerial spray).
    Seeding and Brush Management (aerial spray).

  • Secondary Priority Resource Concern is Water Quantity conservation of irrigation water from the Ogallala Aquifer


    • High Priority Water Conservation Practices are -
    Replacement of old leaking concrete, mortar joint, tile, etc. pipelines with PVC plastic irrigation pipeline.
    Installation of chemigation valves on center pivot irrigation systems to protect the ground water.

    Medium Priority Water Conservation Practice is -
    Conversion of old center pivot sprinklers to LEPA or LESA systems.

    Low Priority Water Conservation Practice is -
    Conversion of surface irrigation systems to microirrigation systems of less than 20 acres.

    Ogallala Ground and Surface Water Conservation Funds
  • The Resource Concern is Water Quantity irrigation


    • High Priority Conservation Practices are -
    Conversion of surface or sideroll sprinkler irrigation systems to microirrigation systems, 50 acres or less in size with less than five percent B-slope.
    Conversion of surface or sideroll irrigation systems to center pivot sprinkler systems covering at least half the circle.
    PVC plastic irrigation pipeline to connect these systems to their water source.
    Installation of chemigation valves when needed for new systems.

    Medium Priority Conservation Practices are -
    Conversion of existing low-efficiency center pivot sprinklers to new LEPA or LESA systems.
    Replacement of old leaking concrete, mortar joint etc. irrigation pipelines with PVC plastic.
    Installation of chemigation valves to center pivot sprinkler irrigation systems when needed for old systems.

    Low Priority Practices are -
    Conversion of surface or sideroll sprinkler irrigation systems to microirrigation systems of more than 50 acres and/or more than five percent B-slope.
    PVC plastic irrigation pipeline to connect these systems to their water source.

    Applications will be ranked within each priority level using a random number generated by the NRCS Protracts computer program.

    Eligible Practices and Cost Share Rates:

    County Base Funds
    Diversions 362 - 50 percent AC
    Waterways 412 - 50 percent AC
    Pasture Planting 512 - 50 percent AC
    Range Planting 550 - 50 percent AC
    Terraces and Basin Terraces 600 - 50 percent AC
    AC Irrigation Pipeline 430DD or EE - 50 percent AC
    Center Pivot Sprinkler Conversion 442 - 50 percent AC
    Chemigation Valve 442 - 50 percent AC
    Microirrigation (drip) System 441 - 35 percent AC
    Ogallala Ground and Surface Water Conservation Funds
    Microirrigation System 441 - 35 percent AC
    Center Pivot Sprinkler Irrigation System 442 - 35 percent AC
    Center Pivot Sprinkler Conversion 442 - 50 percent AC
    Chemigation Valve 442 - 50 percent AC

    AC means Average Cost as shown in the County Cost List.

    Cost share rate for Beginning Farmers and Ranchers is 10 percent more than the percentages listed above.

    Cost share rate for Limited Resource Farmers and Ranchers is 90 percent for all practices.

    Ranking Criteria:

    Applications will be ranked within priorities by a random number generated by the State Office in Temple.