EQIP Program in Liberty 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).

Liberty County Office Information

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

Objective:

The objective of the 2007 EQIP program in Liberty County is to promote the use of conservation practices that will improve the natural resources in the county. Some of the major resource concerns are impaired water quality in streams, bayous, and rivers, and a need to provide adequate ground cover to protect the soil resources.

County EQIP Resource Concern:

 In Liberty County for 2007, the Local Work Group has identified Water Quality as the top priority for cost share assistance this year.  Water quality will be improved by providing an adequate ground cover such as grasses and trees on idle cropland, degraded pastures, and cut-over forests, and by the planting of trees along streams.

Eligible Practices and Cost Share Rates:

Limited Resource Producers - 90 percent
Beginning Farmers and 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 multiplied by the average cost multiplied by the cost share percentage.

High Priority Practices:  Riparian Forest Buffers, Tree Planting, Pasture Planting, Forest Site Preparation, Nutrient Management, & Pest Management.

Medium Priority Practices:  Forest Stand Improvement

The following conservation practices are eligible for cost share as per an approved EQIP contract:
 
Pasture Planting (Code 512)
Nutrient Management (Code 590)
Pest Management (Code 595)
Tree Establishment (Code 612)
Riparian Forest Buffers (Code 391)
Forest Site Preparation (Code 490)
Forest Stand Improvement (Code 666)

Ranking Criteria:

1. (Yes = 100 points, No = 0 points) Do you currently have a conservation plan or are you willing to develop one with NRCS assistance?
2. (Yes = 95 points, No = 0 points) Will Riparian Forest Buffers (hardwood trees) be planted with this application?
3. (Yes = 90 points, No = 0 points) Will you be planting bottomland hardwood trees with this application?
4. (Yes = 85 points, No = 0 points) Will you be planting trees (Pine or Hardwood) on cut-over forest, idle cropland, or on pastures that have less than 50percent
    desirable cover?
5. (Yes = 80 points, No = 0 points) Will you be planting improved grasses on idle cropland or existing pastureland that has less than 50 percent
    desirable cover?
6. (Yes = 75 points, No = 0 points) Are there Highly Erodible (HEL) or Potentially Highly Erodible (PHEL) soils on 50 percent or more of the area to be planted in trees?
7. (Yes = 70 points, No = 0 points) Are there Highly Erodible (HEL) or Potentially Highly Erodible (PHEL) soils on 50 percent
    or more of the area to be planted in grasses?
8. (Yes = 65 points, No = 0 points) Do you currently maintain Riparian Forest Buffers (SMZs) along your streams, creeks, bayous, or rivers?
9. (Yes = 60 points, No = 0 points) Will you be planting trees (pine or hardwood) on existing Pastureland or Hay land that presently has more than a 50 percent
    cover of desirable grasses?

Applicants will be encouraged to develop a Resource Management System level Conservation Plan for their entire operating unit. Practices not listed above are not eligible for cost share or incentive payments. Points will only be awarded for conservation practices that meet the guidelines of the NRCS Field Office Technical Guide. Cost-share for Pasture Planting is only allowed on fields with less than 50 percent ground cover of desirable grasses. Nutrient Management and Pest Management are required with Pasture Planting. For Pasture Planting, a current soil test is required prior to the completion of the ranking process.