EQIP Program in Travis 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).

Travis County Office Information

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

Objective:

The objective of the Travis County EQIP Local Work Group is to promote the use of conservation practices which will improve the natural resources throughout the county with major emphasis on Soil Erosion and Plant Condition.

County EQIP Resource Concern:

In Travis County for 2007, the Local Work Group has identified “Soil Erosion” as one major resource concern and “Plant Condition” as another resource concern.

Priority for Funding

For Travis County for 2007, the Local Work Group selected both concerns “Soil Erosion” and “Plant Condition” as priorities for funding.  30 percent of the County’s allocation will be dedicated to Soil Erosion and 70 percent of the County’s allocation will be dedicated to Plant Condition.

Eligible Practices and Cost Share Rates:

Cost Share Rates

Limited Resource Farmers and Ranchers - 90 percent
Beginning Farmers and Ranchers - 50 percent
All 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 percentage.

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

• Brush Management-Mechanical 314
  
• Pasture and Hayland Planting 512
  
• Nutrient Management 590
  
• Pest Management 595
  
• Brush Management-Individual Plant Treatment 314
  
• Range Seeding 550
• Fence 382
  
• Fence 382
  
• Critical Area Treatment 342
  
• Waterways 412
  
• Terraces 600
  
• For cost share consideration, these practices will be needed to significantly impact Plant Condition according to NRCS specifications and guidelines.
  
• Brush Management 314-Mechanical (maximum of 100 acres)
  
• Pasture and Hayland Planting 512 (applies only to acres treated with Brush
  management-mechanical)
  
• Nutrient Management 590 (cost share is for establishment only)
  
• Pest Management 595 (cost share is for establishment only)
  
• Brush Management-Individual Plant Treatment (for cedar only)-Maximum of 500 acres
  
• Range Seeding 550 (applies only to acres treated with Brush management-IPT)
• Fence 382

For cost share consideration, these practices will be needed to significantly impact Soil Erosion according to NRCS specifications and guidelines.

• Critical Area Planting 342
  
• Pasture and Hayland Planting 514 (maximum of 100 acres)
  
• Nutrient Management 590 (cost share is for establishment only)
  
• Pest Management 595 (cost share is for establishment only)
  
• Waterways 412
  
• Terraces 600
  
• Fence 382

Ranking Criteria:

High, Medium and Low priorities cannot be combined.

High Priority

Issue 1
Will brush control efforts consist of treating juniper and mesquite using NRCS acceptable mechanical methods?
Yes ____ 100 points
No _____ 0 points

Issue 18
Are you willing to carry out a resource management system on your place?
Yes _____ 15 points
No _____ 0 points

Medium Priority  (Points will only be awarded for one Issue)

Issue7
Is this application for Livestock Water Development?
Yes ____ 70 points
No _____ 0 points

Issue11
Is this application for cross fencing?
Yes _____ 50 points
No _____ 0 points
Low Priority

Issue 20
Is this application for any other practices not identified above?
Yes _____ 5 points
No _____ 0 points

High, Medium and Low priorities cannot be combined.

High Priority

Issue 1
Will primary erosion control practices be in cropland?
Yes ____ 100 points
No _____ 0 points

Issue 18
Are you willing to carry out a resource management system on your place?
Yes _____ 15 points
No _____ 0 points

Medium Priority

Issue 10
Will primary erosion control practices be in pastureland?
Yes ____ 55 points
No _____ 0 points

Low Priority

Issue 20
Is this application for any practices other than erosion control?
Yes _____ 5 points
No _____ 0 points

Note - For Critical Area Treatment and Grass Planting - Nutrient and Pest Management is required for establishment.