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EQIP Program in Parmer 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).

Parmer County Office Information

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

Specific State Concern State Resource Concern
AFO-CAFO -Poultry Water Quality/Air Quality
AFO-CAFO -Swine Water Quality/Air Quality
AFO-CAFO-Beef Water Quality/Air Quality
AFO-CAFO -Dairy Water Quality/Air Quality
Salt Cedar Invasive Species
Limited Resource Farmer or Rancher All

Objective:

Ground and Surface Water - Ogallala Special Emphasis Area
The objective of the  2007 Ground and Surface Water - Ogallala Special Emphasis Area funds, as established by the Parmer County Local Work Group, is to promote the use of conservation practices in order to improve the quality and sustainability of the natural resources throughout the county with the major emphasis being placed on conserving irrigation water by increasing the efficiency of eligible irrigation systems.

Parmer County Base EQIP Funds
The objective of the  2007 Parmer County Base EQIP Funds, as established by the Parmer County Local Work Group, is to promote the use of conservation practices in order to improve the quality and sustainability of the natural resources throughout the county with the major emphasis being placed on reducing wind and water erosion on cropland.

County EQIP Resource Concern:

Ground and Surface Water - Ogallala Special Emphasis Area
The Parmer County Local Work Group has identified Water Quantity as the major resource concern to be addressed in 2007 with the Ground and Surface Water - Ogallala Special Emphasis Area funds.

Parmer County EQIP Base Funds
The Parmer County Local Work Group has identified Erosion Control as the primary resource concern followed by Plant Health, Water Quantity, and Soil and Water Quality Incentives. Concerns will be addressed in priority order with the funds allocated as County Base EQIP funds for 2007.

Eligible Practices and Cost Share Rates:

Ground and Surface Water, Ogallala Special Emphasis Area
The funds under the Ground and Surface Water, Ogallala Special Emphasis Area will be used specifically for irrigation practices. The priorities of eligible practices are as follows.
Priority 1 applications
442 Center Pivot Conversions. Cost share rate of 50 percent of average cost.
Priority 2 applications
430-EE Underground Irrigation Pipeline. Cost share rate of 50 percent of the average cost.
Priority 3 applications
442 New Center Pivot Systems replacing a current surface irrigation system, water-drive system, solid set system, or sideroll system and covering 90 acres or more. Cost share rate will be 50 percent of average cost. Limit of 1 new system per landowner and or application.
Priority 4 applications
441- New Micro-Irrigation System replacing a current surface irrigation system, water drive system, solid set system, or sideroll system and covering 30-160 acres. Cost share rate of 50 percent of the average cost.
Priority 5 applications
442- New center pivot systems replacing a current surface irrigation system, water-drive system, solid set system or sideroll system and covering 60-90 acres. Cost share rate of 50 percent of the average cost.
Priority 6 applications
All other New Center Pivot or New Micro-Irrigation Systems replacing a current surface irrigation system, water –drive system, solid set system or sideroll system. Cost share rate of 50 percent of the average cost.

In all priorities, chemigation valves and flow meters will be cost shared at a 50 percent rate, based on the average cost.

Parmer County Base EQIP Funds

  • The Primary Resource Concern for the Base EQIP funds will be Erosion Control.

    Priority practices under Erosion Control will include.

    362 Diversion Terraces. 50 percent cost share rate.
    412 Grassed Waterways. 50 percent cost share rate.
    600 Terraces (standard or parallel.) 50 percent cost share rate.
    327 Conservation Cover. 50 percent cost share rate.

  • The Secondary Resource Concern for the Base EQIP funds will be Plant Health.

    Priority practices under Plant Health will include:|

    Livestock Water Development:
    378 Ponds. 50 percent cost share rate.
    516 Livestock Pipeline. 50 percent cost share rate.
    533 Windmills, Solar Pumps, Submersible Pumps. 50 percent cost share rate.
    614 Livestock Watering Facility. 50 percent cost share rate.
    642 Livestock Well (drilling & casing.) 50 percent cost share rate.
    382 Cross Fencing. 50 percent cost share rate.
    314 Brush Management. 50 percent cost share rate. 300 acre limit.

  • The Third Resource Concern for the Base EQIP funds will be Water Quantity.


    • Priority practices under Water Quantity will include:

    442 Center Pivot Conversions. Cost share rate of 50 percent of average cost.
    430-EE Underground Irrigation Pipeline. Cost share rate of 50 percent of the average cost.
    442 New Center Pivot Systems replacing a current surface irrigation system, water-drive system, solid set system, or sideroll system and covering 90 acres or more. Cost share rate will be 50 percent of average cost. Limit of 1 new system per landowner and or application.
    441- New Micro-Irrigation System replacing a current surface irrigation system, water drive system, solid set system, or sideroll system and covering 30-160 acres. Cost share rate of 50 percent of the average cost.
    442- New center pivot systems replacing a current surface irrigation system, water-drive system, solid set system or sideroll system and covering 60-90 acres. Cost share rate of 50 percent of the average cost.

    All other New Center Pivot or New Micro-Irrigation Systems replacing a current surface irrigation system, water –drive system, solid set system or sideroll system. Cost share rate of 50 percent of the average cost.

    In all priorities, chemigation valves and flow meters will be cost shared at a 50 percent rate, based on the average cost.
     
  • The Fourth Resource Concern for the County Base EQIP funds will be Soil and Water Quality Incentives.

    • Priority practices under Soil and Water Quality Incentives includes:
    Crop Residue Management - $10.00/Acre
    Nutrient Management - $5.00/Acre
    (Incentive Payments are Flat Rate Items – Maximum of 3 Years for Payments)

    Cost share rates for Limited Resource Producers will be 90 percent for all practices.
    Cost share rates for Beginning Farmers and Ranchers has been established at 50 percent for all practices.

    There are basic eligibility requirements that must be met by the landowner or operator as well as eligibility requirements on the land. For additional information concerning the Environmental Quality Incentives Program for 2007 or to schedule a consultation, field visit, and an appointment for application please contact the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Office at 806 481-3311 Ext. 3 or come by the office at 109 Third Street in Farwell.

    Ranking Criteria:

    Ground and Surface Water, Ogallala Special Emphasis Area

    An irrigation criteria worksheet will be used to award points for eligible irrigation practices. Application ranking will be based on the number of points awarded. All applications will be assigned a random number to break all ties in points awarded.

  • Center Pivot Sprinkler Conversions = 40 points - 50 percent Cost Share Rate.

  • Replace leaky underground irrigation pipeline = 35 points - 50 percent Cost Share Rate.

  • New Sprinkler System covering 91 acres or more = 30 points - 50 percent Cost Share Rate.
  • Micro-Irrigation System covering 30 – 160 acres or more = 25 points - 50 percent Cost Share Rate.
  • New Center Pivot Sprinkler System covering 60 to 90 acres = 20 points - 50 percent Cost Share Rate.


    • All other Center Pivot & Micro-Irrigation Systems = 15 points – 50 percent Cost Share Rate.

    County Base EQIP Funds

    Primary Resource Concern is Soil Erosion
    Points may only be awarded for erosion reduction directly related to a cost shared or incentive practice.

    Erosion Control Structures

  • Terraces, Grassed Waterways = 1200 Points. 50 percent Cost Share Rate.

  • Grass Planting = 1200 points. 50 percent Cost Share Rate.


    • Secondary Resource Concern is Plant Health
    Points to be awarded only once for the same practice.
    Points may only be awarded for cost shared practices.

    Livestock Water Facilities
  • Well = 200 points. 50 percent Cost Share Rate.

  • Pond = 200 points. 50 percent Cost Share Rate.

  • Pipeline = 200 points. 50 percent Cost Share Rate.

  • Windmill = 200 points. 50 percent Cost Share Rate.

  • Troughs and WSF = 200 points. 50 percent Cost Share Rate.

  • Cross Fencing = 150 points. 50 percent Cost Share Rate.


    • Brush Management
  • >30 percent canopy cover = 100 points. 50 percent Cost Share Rate.

  • 20-29 percent canopy cover = 75 points. 50 percent Cost Share Rate.

  • 10-19 percent canopy cover = 50 points. 50 percent Cost Share Rate.


    • Third Resource Concern is Water Quantity
    Points are only to be awarded to cost shared practices.
  • Center Pivot Sprinkler Conversions = 40 points. 50 percent Cost Share Rate.

  • Replace leaky underground irrigation pipeline = 35 points. 50 percent Cost Share Rate.
  • New Sprinkler System covering 91 acres or more = 30 points. 50 percent Cost Share Rate.
  • Micro-Irrigation System covering 30-160 acres = 25 points. 50 percent Cost Share Rate.
  • New Center Pivot Sprinkler System covering 60 to 90 acres = 20 points. 50 percent Cost Share Rate.
  • All other New Center Pivot or New Micro-Irrigation Systems = 15 points, 50 percent Cost Share Rate.

    Fourth Resource Concern is Water Quality Incentives
    Points will be awarded only for eligible Incentive Practices.
  • Residue Management Incentive – 10 Points – Flat Rate Payment of $10.00 Per Acre

  • Nutrient Management Incentive – 5 Points – Flat Rate Payment of $5.00 Per Acre

    • (Incentive Payments are Flat Rate Items – Maximum of 3 Years for Payments)