EQIP Program in Victoria 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).

Victoria County Office Information

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

Objective:

The objective of the Victoria County Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) as determined by the Local Work Group (LWG) is to promote the use of conservation practices for improving the natural resources throughout the County with major emphasis on improving plant health on grazing lands.

County EQIP Resource Concern:

In Victoria County for 2007, the Local Work Group (LWG) has identified Plant Health as the major resource concern.

Priority for Funding:

High Priority applications will be funded first.
Medium Priority applications will be funded second.
Low Priority applications will be funded last.

Eligible Practices and Cost Share Rates:

Beginning Farmers/Ranchers – 50 percent
Limited Resource Producers – 90 percent
All Others – 50 percent

Practices will be cost shared based on the established average cost of the practice set up in the Victoria County cost list. 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 following practices are eligible for cost share if carried out in accordance with the standards and specifications in the NRCS Field Office Technical Guide.

Brush Management (314)
Prescribed Burning (338)
Pond (378)
Fence (382)
Pasture Planting (512)
Pipeline (516)
Prescribed Grazing (528)
Range Planting (550)
Nutrient Management (590)
Pest Management (595)
Trough or Tank (614)
Well (642)

Screening Tool:

1. Do you have native rangeland or are you planning to plant native grasses on your land.
   
   _____ Yes, go to question #3 _____ No, go to question #2
   
   
2. Do you have improved pasture or are you planning to plant improved pasture grasses on your land.
   
   _____ Yes, go to question #3 _____ No, Low Priority
   
   
3. Do you have or are you willing to install a rotational grazing system.
   
   _____ Yes, go to question #4 _____ No, Low Priority
   
   
4. Does the rotational grazing system have, or will have, at least 4 pastures and 1 herd.
   
   _____ Yes, High Priority _____ No, Medium Priority

Only applications with High Priority will be ranked at this time. Applications with Medium and Low Priorities will be ranked only if funds remain after all High Priority applications are funded. Applications not ranked or funded will be deferred to the next application funding window.

Ranking Criteria:

Cost Share Percentages:

County Rate: 50 percent
Beginning Farmer and Rancher 50 percent
Limited Resource Producer: 90 percent

Points will be awarded for only one Issue.

Issue 1

Is this application for the control of Mesquite, Huisache or McCartney Rose using NRCS acceptable methods of Individual Plant Treatment?

Yes  _____ 100 points
No  _____  0 points _____

Issue 2

Is this application for the control of Mesquite, Huisache or McCartney Rose using NRCS acceptable methods of chemical broadcast treatment?

Yes  _____  95 points
No  _____  0 points ______

Issue 3

Is this application for the control of Mesquite, Huisache or McCartney Rose using NRCS acceptable methods of mechanical control?

Yes  _____  90 points
No  _____ 0 points ______

Issue 4

Is this application for the control of a brush species other than Mesquite, Huisache or McCartney Rose using NRCS acceptable control methods?

Yes _____  85 points
No  _____ 0 points ______

Issue 5

Is this application for cross-fencing?
Yes  _____  80 points
No  _____  0 points ______

Issue 6

Is this application for Livestock water development such as pond, well, Pipeline or trough?

Yes _____  75 points
No  _____ 0 points ______

Issue 7

Is this application for the establishment of native grasses and/or forbs?

Yes  _____  70 points
No  _____  0 points ______

Issue 8

Is this application for the establishment of improved grasses?

Yes  _____  65 points
No  _____  0 points ______

Issue 9

Is this application for conducting a Prescribed Burn according to a NRCS burn plan?

Yes  _____  60 points
No  _____  0 points ______

Issue 20

Is this application for any other practices not identified above?

Yes  _____  5 points
No  _____  0 points ______

Total Points ______