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EQIP Program in Anderson County
Updated
12/09/2005
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 Anderson
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 Anderson
County:
Objective:
The objective of the Anderson County EQIP 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 water quality in streams and water
bodies.
County EQIP Resource Concern:
In Anderson County for 2006, the Local Work Group LWG has identified Water
Quality as the major resource concern.
Eligible Practices and Cost Share Rates:
Cost Share Rates
Limited Resource Producers - 90 percent
Beginning Farmers/Ranchers - 50 percent
Others - 50 percent
All cost-shared practices, except ponds and fences, will be cost-shared based on
the established average cost AC 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.
Ponds and fences will be cost shared based on the established average cost of
the practice, not to exceed the actual cost AA of the practice. The amount of
cost-share earned will be the number of units certified after completion
multiplied by the average cost not to exceed the actual cost multiplied by the
cost-share percentage.
Cost-sharing will be for the following practices as identified in the Field
Office Technical Guide Pasture and Hay Planting, Tree/Shrub Establishment,
Ponds, Fencing, and Prescribed Burning. For cost-share consideration, these
practices must be needed to impact Water Quality and meet NRCS specifications
and guidelines.
Pasture and Hay Planting 512, Average costs = $70.00 per acre when planting
legumes, $56.00 per acre when seeding perennial grasses, and $125.00 per acre
when planting by sprigs or tops. For cost share, planting is only allowed on
fields with less than 50 percent ground cover of desirable species. Legumes will
be managed for reseeding.
Nutrient Management 590, Average cost of lime = $40.00 per ton. Average cost of
N, P, and K = $0.35 per pound. This practice is for establishment only of
pasture and hay planting. A soil test report, not over 1 year old, is required
for application to be ranked. A nutrient management plan should be developed
before the application is ranked.
Pest Management 595, Average cost = $14.00 per acre. This practice is for
establishment only of pasture and hay planting.
Tree/Shrub Establishment 612, Average cost = $100.00 per acre for open land and
$115.00 per acre for cutover land. Forest site preparation will be applied for
this practice.
Forest Site preparation 490, Average cost = $45.00 per acre for on open land and
$140.00 per acre
for cutover land. This practice is to be used for Tree/Shrub establishment.
Pond 378, Average cost = $1.75 per cubic yard for earthmoving. All disturbed
areas will be vegetated. Maximum cubic yards = 2500 cubic yards per pond. Ponds
will result in better distribution of grazing. Prescribed grazing incentive must
be applied for one year. Critical Area Planting will be applied with this
practice as needed.
Critical Area Planting 342, Average cost = $150.00 per acre. This practice is to
be used with ponds.
Fence 382, Average cost = $1.75 per foot. The maximum amount of cost share is
5280 feet per contract. Prescribed grazing incentive must be applied for a
minimum of one year after fence is built. Boundary fences are ineligible.
Prescribed Burning 338, Average cost = $35.00 per acre. Must be applied to meet
an objective approved by NRCS.
Incentive payments will be for the following practices as identified in the
Field Office Technical Guide: Nutrient Management, Pest Management, and
Prescribed Grazing. For incentive payments these practices must be needed to
impact Water Quality and meet NRCS specifications and guidelines. To be eligible
for an incentive, the practice must not be currently practiced.
Nutrient Management 590, Flat rate incentive payments will be as follows:
pH is 5.5 or above = $25.00 per acre per year for up to 3 years
pH is below 5.5 = $40.00 per acre for first year, $30.00 per acre for the second
year, and $25.00 per acre for the third year. A soil test report, not over one
year old, is required before application is ranked. A nutrient management plan
should be developed before application is ranked.
Pest Management 595, Flat rate incentive payment: Weed control = $7.00 per acre
per year
Prescribed Grazing 528A, Flat rate incentive payment = $10.00 per acre per year.
Must have two or more grazing units for rotation grazing.
Ranking Criteria:
Ranking factors for all practices will use leaching potential and runoff
class based on field slope and runoff curve of the predominant soil. Leaching
potential (LP) factors are nominal=0, intermediate=1, and high=2. Runoff class
factors (RCF) are negligible=0, very low=1, low=2, moderate=3, high=4, and very
high=5.
Category I- Add 2 extra points if ground cover is less than 50 percent
Nutrient Management Incentive- pH > 6.0 - 40 points + LP and RCF
Nutrient Management Incentive- pH = 5.6-6.0 - 43 points + LP and RCF
Nutrient Management Incentive- pH = 5.0-5.5 - 48 points + LP and RCF
Nutrient Management Incentive- pH < 5.0 - 54 points + LP and RCF
Category II- Add 3 extra points for legume or native grass planting.
Pasture and Hay Planting-with HEL soil map units - 40 points + LP and RCF
Pasture and Hay Planting-with PHEL soil map units - 30 points + LP and RCF
Pasture and Hay Planting-with only NHEL soil map units - 10 points + LP and RCF
Category III
Tree Planting-with HEL soil map units - 43 points + LP and RCF
Tree Planting-with PHEL soil map units - 33 points + LP and RCF
Tree Planting-with only NHEL soil map units - 13 points + LP and RCF
Category IV- Add 10 extra points for pond with rocked, limited livestock
watering point.
Pond one or more -20 points + LP and RCF
Category V- Add 10 extra points for fence to provide for rocked, limited
livestock watering point. Fence one or more -20 points + LP and RCF
Category VI
Prescribed Burning -20 points + LP and RCF
Category VII
Pest Management Incentive -10 points + LP and RCF
Category VIII
Prescribed Grazing Incentive -10 points + LP and RCF
Producer can only get points in one category.
Practices not on practice list are not eligible for cost share or incentive
payments.
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