EQIP Program in Cass County

Updated 11/28/2005

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).

Cass County Office Information

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

Objective:

Reduction of sedimentation from forestland and pastureland.

County EQIP Resource Concern:

Water Quality-Surface Water Contaminants-Suspended Sediment and Turbidity, Pesticides, Nutrients and Organics.

Eligible Practices and Cost Share Rates:

Cost Share Rates

Limited Resource Producers (LFR) - 90 percent
Statewide allocation will be set aside for LFR
Beginning Farmers/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.

Brush Management (314) – Average Cost = $180.00 per acre
Pond (378) – Average Cost = $2.40 per cubic yard For livestock water only
Fence (382) – Average Cost = $2.00 per foot
Forest Riparian Buffer established (391) – Average Cost = $150.00 per acre
Firebreak (394) – Average Cost = $0.24 per foot
Forest Site Preparation (490) - Average Cost = $200.00 per acre
Pasture Planting (512) – Average Cost = $80.00 per acre for seeded grasses and $135.00 per acre for hybrid grasses
Nutrient Management (590) – Average Cost = $100.00 per acre. This is for establishment only and will be based on a current soils test.
Tree Establishment (612) – Average Cost = $160.00 per acre for pine establishment only
Tree Stand Improvement (666) – Average Cost = $120.00 per acre for chemical or mechanical release of an established stand of pine<

Ranking Criteria:

• Brush Management – 20 points
  
• Pond – 10 points
  
• Fence – 40
  
• Forest Riparian Buffer – 60 points
  
• Firebreak – 10 points
  
• Forest Site Preparation – 10 points
  
• Pasture Planting – HEL soils – 60 points

• Tree Establishment – HEL soils – Open - 60 points

• Tree Stand Improvement – 10 points

Practices not on practice list are not eligible for cost share.

• 0-200 feet = 10 points
  
• 201-400 feet = 9 points
  
• 401-600 feet = 8 points
  
• 601-800 feet = 7 points
  
• 801-1000 feet = 6 points
  
• 1001-1500 feet = 5 points
  
• 1501-2000 feet = 4 points
  
• 2001-2500 feet = 3 points
  
• 2501-3000 feet = 2 points
  
• 3001-3500 feet = 1 point
  
• more than 3500 feet = 0 points

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