EQIP Program in Swisher 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).

Swisher County Office Information

Interested agricultural producers may apply in person at the Swisher County USDA Service Center. Applicants may also request EQIP assistance by telephone, Fax, e-mail, or letter.
Gary Hunter, District Conservationist

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

Objective:

Base Fund Allocation

The objectives of the Swisher County EQIP LWG are to promote the use of conservation practices for the improving the natural resources throughout the county. The major resources include plant health, water quality, soil erosion, and water quantity.

Ground and Surface Water Ogallala Fund Allocation

The objective of the Swisher 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

1. Plant Health
2. Water Quality
3. Erosion
4. Water Quantity.

Ground and Surface Water Ogallala Allocation

In 2007 the Swisher County LWG identified Water Quantity as the major resource concern.

Eligible Practices and Cost Share Rates:

Eligible practices will be cost shared 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.

The cost share rate for Limited Resource Farmers and Ranchers will be 90 percent for all practices.

The cost share rate Beginning Farmers and Ranchers will be the same as those applicable for all other applicants.

Incentive payments will not be used in Swisher County for any practice.

All practices will be installed according to NRCS Standards and Specs.

Base Fund Allocation

Livestock Pipeline 516
Units - Feet
Cost share rate - 50 percent of average cost

Livestock Watering Facility 614
Units - Number
Cost share rate - 50 percent of average cost

Livestock Water Well 642
Units - Number
Cost share rate - 50 percent of average cost

Dam 402
Unit - Number
Cost share rate - 50 percent of average cost

Pond 378
Unit - Number
Cost share rate - 50 percent of average cost

Fence 382
Units - Feet
Cost share rate - 50 percent of average cost

Brush Management 314

1. Invasive species - Perennial Weeds >10 percent canopy cover


2. Invasive species - Mesquite >10 percent canopy cover
   Units - Acres

Cost share rate - 50 percent of average cost

Water Quality

Pasture and Hayland Planting 512
Unit - Acres
Cost share rate - 50 percent of average cost

Range Seeding 550
Unit - Acres
Cost share rate - 50 percent of average cost

Well Decommissioning 351
Unit - Number
Cost share rate - 50 percent of actual cost not to exceed average cost

Erosion

Diversion Terraces 362
Units - Cubic yards
Cost share rate - 50 percent of average cost

Terraces standard and parallel 600
Units - Feet
Cost share rate - 50 percent of average cost

Grassed Waterways 412
Units - Acre
Cost share rate - 50 percent of average cost

Water Quantity

Irrigation System Microirrigation 441
Units - Acre
Cost share rate - 50 percent of average cost

Irrigation Water Conveyance, Pipeline430DD and 430EE - High and low pressure pipeline
Unit - Feet
Cost share rate - 50 percent of average cost

Irrigation System Sprinkler Conversion 442
Unit - Feet
Cost share rate - 50 percent of average cost

Irrigation Regulating Reservoir 552
Unit - Number
Cost share rate - 50 percent of average cost

Irrigation System Sprinkler, New 442
Units - Feet
Cost share rate - 50 percent of average cost

In all priorities chemigation valves and flow meters will be eligible for cost share at 50 percent of average cost.

Ground And Surface Water Ogallala Fund Allocation - Eligible Practices and Cost Share Rates

Irrigation Water Conveyance, Pipeline430DD and 430EE-High and low pressure pipeline
Unit - Feet
Cost share rate - 50 percent of average cost

Irrigation System Sprinkler Conversion 442
Units - Feet
Cost share rate - 50 percent of average cost

Irrigation System Sprinkler, New 442
Unit - Feet
Cost share rate - 50 percent of average cost

Irrigation Regulating Reservoir 552
Unit - Number
Cost share rate - 50 percent of average cost

In all practices in the Ogallala funding allocation, chemigation valves and flow meters will be eligible for cost share at 50 percent of average cost. In Irrigation System Sprinkler new, Irrigation Regulating Reservoir will be eligible for cost share at 50 percent of average cost.

Ranking Criteria:

Base Fund Allocation

• Livestock Pipelines - 200 points


• Livestock Troughs - 200 points


• Livestock Water Well - 200 points
• Dam 402 - 200 points
• Pond 378 - 200 points
  
• Fence - 200 points


• Brush Management

1. Perennial Weeds - 95 points


2. Mesquite - 90 points

• Pasture Planting - 40 points


• Range Seeding - 40 points


• Diversions - 35 points


• Terraces - 35 points


• Grassed Waterway - 35 points


• Microirrigation - 15 points


• Irrigation Pipelines - 10 points


• Sprinkler Conversions - 5 points


• Irrigation Regulating Reservoir - 5 points


• Sprinkler System New - 5 points

Ground and Surface Water Ogallala Fund Allocation

All practices in the Ogallala will be ranked using the 12 digit computer generated number under each priority item. Practices not on the practice list are not eligible for cost share.