EQIP Program in Matagorda 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).

Matagorda County Office Information

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

Stephen Deiss, District Conservationist

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

Objective:

The objective of the Matagorda County EQIP LWP is to promote the use of conservation practices for improving the natural resources throughout the county. The major resource concerns emphasized are water quantity, plant health and water quality.

County EQIP Resource Concern:

In Matagorda County for 2007, the Local Work Group had identified the following resource concerns as being their top priorities:

1. Water quantity
   
2. Plant health
   
3. Soil erosion

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:

For cost share consideration, these practices must be needed to significantly impact one or more 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): Must use treatment for targeted plant listed by NRCS provided TAMU “EXSEL” expert system producing a “Very High” or “High” level of expected success.

Fence (382): Must be a cross fence placed to facilitate a grazing management system.

Grade Stabilization Structure (410): Must use a NRCS-provided design for materials and placement of pipe drop structure.

Irrigation pipeline (430EE): Must provide proof of irrigation 2 of the past five years and use a NRCS-provided design for materials and placement of pipeline, which replaces an open canal system.

Irrigation land leveling (464): Must provide proof of irrigation 2 of the past five years and use a NRCS-provided design for regarding land surface.

Pipeline (516): Must be used to provide water for livestock and facilitate grazing distribution and installed using NRCS-provided design and specifications.

Prescribed grazing (528): Key specie will be identified by NRCS and checked by NRCS in July of year following initiation of contract for proper grazing height.

Well (642): Must be used to provide water for livestock and facilitate grazing distribution. A copy of the records generated by driller must be provided and placed in contract file.

Cost Share Rate

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, except for Prescribed Grazing, which will be funded as a flat rate. 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.

Ranking Criteria:

Hihg Priority

_____ Practices checked on the practice list sheet and are a part of a Resource Management System Conservation Plan with the SWCD and NRCS to address all resource concerns (SWAPA) on the operating unit and practices scheduled to be applied in an order needed to achieve proper resource management.

Medium Priority

_____ Practices checked on the practice list sheet and are part of a Progressive Level Conservation Plan with the SWCD and NRCS on the operating unit, addressing only one or more concerns.
Low Priority

_____ Practices checked on the practice list sheet and are not part of any land treatment plan and do not address the resource concerns at even a progressive level of treatment.