EQIP Program in Ochiltree County - On hold found error

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).

Ochiltree County Office Information

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

Rick Harrell, Acting District Conservationist

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

Objective:

Base Fund Allocation

The objective of the Ochiltree 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 plant health.

Ground and Surface Water GSW Fund Allocation

The objective of the Ochiltree County EQIP LWG is to promote the use of conservation practices that conserve ground water and promote the wise and efficient use of ground water by producers.

County EQIP Resource Concern:

Base Fund Allocation

In Ochiltree County for 2007, the LWG has Plant Health as the major resource concern, with Erosion Control and Water Quantity Irrigation as secondary concerns.

GSW Fund Allocation

In 2007 the Ochiltree County LWG identified Water Quantity as the major resource concern for GSW funding.

Priority for Funding:

See ranking criteria.

Eligible Practices and Cost Share Rates:

Cost Share Rates

Limited Resource Farmers and Ranchers will receive 90 percent cost share for all practices. Beginning Farmers and Ranchers will receive 50 percent cost share for all practices. All other participants will receive the cost share rates as listed below.
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.
Cost sharing will be allowed for the following practices as identified in the Field Office Technical Guide.

Base Fund Allocation Eligible Practices and Cost Share Rates

Erosion Control Practices Grade Stabilization Structure 410, Grassed Waterway 412, Diversion 362, Terrace 600, 50 percent cost share.
Pasture and Hayland Planting 512, Range Planting 550 50 percent cost share.

Irrigation Water Management, Installation of Flow Meter 449 Incentive Payment, Irrigation System, LPIC Conversion 442, 50 percent cost share, Conservation Crop Rotation Dryland Conversion 328 Incentive Payment. In order for an application for Conservation Crop Rotation Dryland Conversion Incentive Payment to be eligible the land must have been row water irrigated in 2005 and meet the 3 gpm/acre requirement.There is a 320 acre limit per application for the Dryland Conversion Incentive Payment.

Livestock Water Practices Water Well 642, Pipeline 516, Watering Facility 614, Pumping Plant 533 50 percent cost share. All applications must meet need and feasibility criteria for consideration.

GSW Fund Allocation Eligible Practices and Cost Share Rates

Irrigation System Sprinkler LPIC 442 This practice will be used for the installation of a new center pivot irrigation system when converting from a surface irrigation system to a center pivot sprinkler irrigation system. Practice cost share rate is 50 percent.

Irrigation Water Conveyance Pipeline Low Pressure, Underground, Plastic 430EE This practice will be used for the installation of new irrigation pipeline to a non cost shared center pivot irrigation system, to a cost shared center pivot irrigation system and to replace existing surface, open ditch or leaky pipeline. Practice cost share rate is 50 percent.

Irrigation System MicroIrrigation 441 This practice will be used for the installation of new microirrigation when converting from surface irrigation, side roll or water drive, solid set, hand move, big gun or old center pivot (twenty years old or more). Practice cost share rate is 50 percent. There is a limit of 30 acres per applicant for this practice.

Ranking Criteria:

Base Fund Ranking Criteria

Livestock Water Practices Water Well 642, Pipeline 516, Watering Facility 614, Pumping Plant 533 100 points

Brush Management 314 90 points.

Fence 382 80 points.

Erosion Control Practices Pasture and Hayland Planting 512, Range Planting 550 70 points.

Erosion Control Practices Grade Stabilization Structure 410, Grassed Waterway 412, Diversion 362, Terrace 600 60 points.

Water Quantity Installation of Flow Meters Incentive 449 50 points.

Water Quantity Conversion of existing sprinkler irrigation to LPIC sprinkler irrigation 442 40 points.

Water Quantity Conservation Crop Rotation Dryland Conversion >1500 gpm well 30 points.

Water Quantity Conservation Crop Rotation Dryland Conversion 1001-1499 gpm well 25 points.

Water Quantity Conservation Crop Rotation Dryland Conversion 501-1000 gpm well 20 points.

Water Quantity Conservation Crop Rotation Dryland Conversion <500 gpm well 15 points.

All practices related to livestock water will only receive 100 points no matter how many practices

GSW Fund Ranking Criteria

Water Quantity New irrigation pipeline replacing surface, open ditch or leaky pipeline 430DD,430EE - 100 points

Water Quantity Conversion of surface irrigation, side roll or water drive, solid set or hand move to LPIC sprinkler irrigation system 442 - 80 points

Water Quantity Conversion of surface irrigation, side roll or water drive, solid set or hand move, old center pivot (twenty years old or more) to microirrigation system 441 -
60 points

In the event of a tie a 12 digit computer generated number will break a tie.
Practices not mentioned above are not eligible for cost share or incentive payments.