EQIP Program in Lee 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).

Lee County Office Information

Interested agricultural producers may apply in person at the Lee 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 Lee County:

Objective:

Environmental Quality Incentives Program, EQIP, offers cost share assistance to agricultural producers to implement on farm/ranch conservation practices. The Natural Resources Conservation Service, NRCS, determines eligible producers and eligible land for the 2007 EQIP program. Eligible producers may apply for cost share assistance on conservation practices that will address the resource concerns identified by the Local Work Group, LWG, and the Program Development Group, PDG.

The objective of the Lee County LWG is to promote the use of conservation practices for improving the natural resources throughout the county. Some of the major resource concerns are encroachment of mesquite and huisache on pasture and rangeland and better grazing management systems on grazing land.

County EQIP Resource Concern:

In Lee County for 2007, the Local Work Group (LWG) has identified Plant Health and Vigor resource concern as being high priority for cost share assistance this year.
Plant Health and Vigor was selected as a high priority concern in Lee County. Addressing the encroachment of mesquite/huisache on pasture and rangeland will be given high priority for contract funding. Other practices including Livestock Water Ponds, Pipelines/Troughs, Fencing, Pasture/Range Planting are also eligible and will have a positive effect on Plant Health and Vigor on grazingland management.

Eligible Practices and Cost Share Rates:

Cost share rate for Limited Resource Farmers and Ranchers will be 90 percent for all practices.
Cost share rate for Beginning Farmers and Ranchers will be 50 for all practices.
Cost share for all others will be 50 percent for all practices.
Practices will be cost shared based on the established average cost of practices in Lee County.

Ranking Criteria:

2007 EQIP Screening Tool Lee County, Texas

Do you have on file with the FSA office the following forms AD 1026, AD 1026A, CCC 501, CCC 502, CCC 526 and any other forms needed to update you files. Yes No

Have you provided Proof of Ownership, mailing address and social security number to the FSA office. If married, both husband and wife social security number. Yes No
Note- If you are approved for funding and have signed the EQIP contract and then decide that you are not interested and want to cancel out of the EQIP contract, you will be required to pay 20 percent of the amount obligated to your contract for the recovery of technical and financial assistance.

I. Plant Health and Vigor

1. Do you own or lease the land used for livestock and/or hay production. If the land is leased, will the owner sign the EQIP contract and maintain it for the life of the practices. Yes No

2. If the land is leased, can you secure a lease agreement for the length of the EQIP contract.  Yes No

3. Do you have a brush problem.  Yes No

4. Problem brush species

Mesquite/Huisache High Priority
Oak/Yaupon Med Priority Yes No

5. Will you agree to defer the treated acres until the grass is established. Yes No

6. Will you apply fertilizer according to a current soil test for the establishment of newly planted grasses. Yes No

7. Do you need other conservation practices to improve grazing management such as grass planting or livestock water. Yes No

Resource Concern:  Plant Health/Vigor

Complete one priority section only
Points are cumulative with a priority section only

High Priority
Circle Yes or No

Issue # 1
Ready, willing and able to make planning decisions and carry out all essential practices necessary to achieve a Resource Management System (RMS) level of conservation planning on the entire operating unit? If you answer NO to Issue # 1 then go to Medium Priority.
Yes No
100 points 0 points

Medium Priority (Points will only be awarded for one Issue)
Circle Yes or No

Issue # 10
Is this application for species control of primarily mesquite and huisache using NRCS acceptable methods of treatments (Mechanical or Chemical IPT)?
Yes No
55 points 0 points

Issue # 11
Is this application for the establishment of permanent grass(Pasture/Hayland Planting or Range Seeding)?.
Yes No
50 points 0 points

Issue # 15
Is this application for developing livestock water(Pond or Pipeline/Watering Facility)?
Yes No
30 points 0 points
 
Issue # 16
Is this application for cross fencing that will facilitate prescribed grazing on both sides of the planned fence?
Yes No
25 points 0 points