EQIP Program in Somervell 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).
Interested agricultural producers may apply in person at the
Somervell County USDA Service Center. Applicants may also request
EQIP
assistance by telephone, Fax, e-mail, or letter.
Bill Oquin,
District Conservationist
State Resource Concerns Priority Areas that include part of
Somervell County:
Objective:
The objectives of the Somervell County EQIP LWG are to promote the use of
conservation practices for improving the natural resources throughout the
county. Some of the major resource concerns include Water Quality surface and
groundwater, Brush Invasion, Plant Health, Water Conservation, and Soil Erosion.
County EQIP Resource Concern:
In Somervell County for 2007, the LWG has identified the following resource
concerns as being the top priority for cost share assistance this year.
Plant Health was selected as the highest priority concern in Somervell County.
Establishing permanent vegetation of cropland and rangeland will be given the
highest priority for contract funding. Other practices including brush
management and cross fences are also eligible and will have a positive effect on
improving grazing land, reducing brush invasion, and improving plant health.
Priority for Funding:
Eligible Practices and Cost Share Rates:
Cost Share Rates
Limited Resource Producers - 90 percent
Beginning Farmers or Ranchers - 50 percent
Others - 50 percent
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.
Cost sharing will be allowed for the following practices as identified in the
Field Office Technical Guide.
Practices must be installed according to NRCS specifications and guidelines.
Range Planting 550 – Establish adapted perennial vegetation.
Pasture and Hayland Planting 512 - Establish forage species for grazing or
mechanicl harvest. Nutrient management and pest management will be planned with
this practice.
Nutrient Management 590 – Manage the amount, form, placement and timing of
plant nutrient application. This is for grass establishment only.
Pest Management 595 - Manage infestation of weeds to reduce adverse effects on
plant growth. This is for grass establishment only.
Brush management 314 – Mechanically treedoze/grub and rake targeted brush
species - Heavy
Brush Management 314 – Individual plant treatment using chemical herbicides.
Densities must be less than 400 plants per acre to make IPT.economically
feasible.
Fence 382 – Construct a minimum of a four strand barbed wire fence for grazing
distribution. Perimeter fences are not eligible.
Ranking Criteria:
Select only one practice per
application. Based on majority of treatment planned.
Converting cropland into permanent grass with introduced or native vegetation –
100 points
Rangeland Planting or Pasture Planting – 80 points
Individual Plant Treatment using chemical herbicides – 60 points
Mechanical brush management followed by range planting or pasture planting – 40
points
Grazing distribution utilizing cross fences (Points are only awarded when this
is the only practice planned in the application) – 20 points
Practices not on practice list are not eligible for cost share.
| 
About Us
Back to Top