EQIP Program in Randall 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).

Randall County Office Information

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

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

Objective:

County Base Fund

The objective of the Randall County EQIP LWG is to promote the use of conservation practices for improving the natural resources throughout the county with major emphasis on the reduction of soil erosion and reduce sedimentation from leaving the farm and entering our water bodies.

Ground and Surface Water Fund

The Randall County EQIP LWG objective is to address water quantity as the resource concern with conservation practices that conserve irrigation water for beneficial use.

Priority for Funding:

County Base Funds

• Priority 1 - Erosion
  
• Priority 2 - Water Quality
  
• Priority 3 - Plant Health
  
• Priority 4 - Water Quantity

Ground and Surface Water

Water Quantity

Eligible Practices and Cost Share Rates:

Cost Share Rates

Limited Resource Producers - 90 percent
Beginning Farmer or Rancher - 90 percent
All Others - 50 percent

Practices will be cost shared based on the average cost method.

Cost sharing will be allowed for the following practices as identified in the Electronic Field Office Technical Guide.

County Base Funds - Eligible Practices

• Terrace 600
  
• Diversion Terrace 362
  
• Grassed Waterway 412

• Prescribed Grazing 528 incentive payment limited to 1000 acres per application
  
• Pest Management 595 incentive payment limit 1000 acres per application
  
• Nutrient Management 590 incentive payment limit 1000 acres per application
  
• Residue Management 344 incentive payment limit 1000 acres per application
  
• Brush Management 314 limited to 640 acres per application

To be eligible for Pest, Nutrient, or Residue Management an applicant must apply for all.

• Well-Livestock 642 limited to one per application
  
• Pumping Plant 533 Windmill, Solar or Submersible pump limited to one per application
  
• Water Storage Facility 614 limited to one per pasture
• Livestock Pipeline 516 limited to two miles per application
• Cross Fence 382 limited to one mile per application
• Pasture Planting 512 limited to 640 acres per application
• Range Planting 550 limited to 640 acres per application

• Irrigation Pipeline 430EE
  
• Sprinkler Conversion 442
  
• Chemigation Valve 442
  
• Flowmeter 442
• Sprinkler Irrigation System Low Pressure, IN-Canopy 442
• Micro Irrigation System Subsurface 443

Chemigation Valves and Flowmeters will qualify for Cost Share only when they are being installed with Irrigation Pipeline or Center Pivot Conversion.

Ground and Surface Water Fund

• Irrigation Pipeline 430EE
  
• Sprinkler Conversion 442
  
• Chemigation Valve 442
  
• Flowmeter 442

Chemigation Valves and Flowmeters will qualify for Cost Share only when they are being installed with Irrigation Pipeline or Center Pivot Conversion.

Ranking Criteria:

County Base Funds

• All Erosion practices - 100 points

• Prescribed Grazing 528A - 80 points
• Pest Management 595 - 80 points
• Nutrient Management 590 - 80 points
• Residue Management 344 - 80 points
• Brush Management - 75 points

• All livestock water practices - 70 points
• Cross Fence - 65 points
• Pasture Planting - 50 points
• Range Planting - 50 points

• Irrigation Pipeline - 10 points
• Sprinkler Conversion - 10 points
• Chemigation Valve - 10 points
• Flowmeter - 10 points
  
• Sprinkler Irrigation System Low Pressure, IN Canopy - 5 points
  
• Micro Irrigation System Subsurface - 5 points
  

Ground and Surface Water Fund

Ground and Surface Water points will be assigned by the Randall County LWG for the following practices.

• Irrigation Pipeline - 100 points
  
• Sprinkler Conversion - 80 points
  
• Chemigation Valve  - 5 points
  
• Flowmeter - 5 points
• Sprinkler Irrigation System Low Pressure, IN-Canopy (LPIC) 442 - 5 points
  
• Micro Irrigation System Subsurface 443 - 5 points

**Sprinkler Irrigation System & Micro Irrigation System are Low Priority

Chemigation Valves and Flowmeters will qualify for Cost Share only when they are being installed with Irrigation Pipeline, Sprinkler Conversions, Micro Irrigation systems, or Sprinkler Irrigation systems.