EQIP Program in Shackelford 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).

Shackelford County Office Information

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

Objective:

The objectives of the Shackelford County EQIP Local Work Group LWG are to promote the use of conservation practices for improving the natural resources throughout the county. Some of the major resource concerns are -

Water Quantity - Grazing Land Health -Reduction in the productivity of grazing lands and/or significant decrease in range condition associated with the invasion of brush and/or decline of beneficial native grasses.

Water Quality - Soil Erosion and Sedimentation -Increased soil erosion from both wind and water on cropland. Gully erosion on rangeland and marginal pastureland. Increased sedimentation of ponds/reservoirs that provide livestock water and/or public drinking water.
Water Quantity -Lack of adequate water supplies for livestock. Reduced flow to reservoirs that provide public water.
Wildlife Habitat- Loss of wildlife habitat. The ability to sustain existing wildlife habitat.

County EQIP Resource Concern:

Priority Resource Concern - In Shackelford County for 2007, the LWG has identified the following resource concerns as being the top priority for cost share assistance this year -

Water Quantity - Grazing Land Health and Water Quality - Soil Erosion and Sedimentation were selected as the highest priority concerns in Shackelford County. Control of Mesquite and Cactus sp. along with Ponds and Cross Fences will be given the highest priority for contract funding under the Grazing Land Health concern.  Range Seeding, Pasture Planting, Pipelines, Troughs, Cross Fences, Ponds and Diversions will be given the second highest priority.

Brush Management applications will be limited to a total of 640 Acres.
All Mechanical Brush Management  will be limited to 160 total acres.

Grassed Waterways, Terraces, Diversions will be given the highest priority for contract funding under the Soil Erosion and Sedimentation concern.

Priority for funding Applications will be as follows:

Water Quantity – Grazing Land Health:

1. Applications for brush management.
2. Applications for brush management and other eligible practices.
3. Applications for other eligible only.

Water Quality – Soil Erosion and Sedimentation:
1. Applications for Terraces, Waterways or Diversions

Eligible Practices and Cost Share Rates:

The following practices are the only eligible practices for the 2007 EQIP program in Shackelford County. Brush Management(314) targeting Mesquite and Prickly Pear Cactus, Terraces(600), Livestock Water Pipelines (516), Troughs (614), Range Seeding (550), Pasture Planting (512), Fence (382), Grassed Waterways (412), Diversions (362), Ponds (378)

Limited Resource Producers - 90 percent
Beginner Farmer/Rancher - 50 percent
All other Producers - 50 percent

Eligible Practices and Cost Share Rates - 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 rate.

Ranking Criteria:

100-Points - Does the proposed treated area of this application address water quality concerns pertaining to soil erosion and sedimentation through the implementation of conservation practices on cropland?

95-Points - Does the proposed treated area of this application address water quantity issues pertaining to plant health on rangeland through the implementation of ONLY Brush Management practices for control of mesquite and/or prickly pear cactus? (limit 640 ac., Mechanical 160 ac.)

50-Points – Does the proposed treated area of this application address water quantity issues pertaining to plant health through the implementation of conservation practices on rangeland including brush management and other eligible practices?

25-Points – Does the proposed treated area of this application address water quantity issues pertaining to plant health through the implementation of conservation practices on rangeland other than brush management?

10-Points - As of September 15, 2006 did the applicant have a conservation plan on file with NRCS on this farm addressing the practices requested within this application?

Applications will be ranked using the national ranking tool and points will be awarded according to how your application addresses National, Sate and Local issues with the cost efficiency of the practices needed to solve the resource concerns. Applications will be ranked from the highest to the lowest score until all allocated funds have been exhausted or until there is not enough funds available to fund the next application with the highest score. In the case of a tie, a tracking code randomly generated by the computer software program, Protracts, will be used to break the tie scores. The highest tracking code number will be funded first. Applicant’s not funded will have a choice to defer or cancel their applications.

Practices not on the practice list are NOT eligible for cost share or incentive payments.