EQIP Program in Chambers 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).

Chambers County Office Information

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

Objective:

The objective of the 2006 EQIP program is to improve the natural resources of Chambers County by promoting the use of desirable conservation practices. Some of the major resource concerns are water quality in bayous and control of invasive species (Chinese Tallow trees).

County EQIP Resource Concern:

The Local Work Group has identified Water Quality as being the top resource concern in Chambers County for cost share assistance in 2006. Control of invasive species, Chinese tallow trees, will be addressed through a Statewide Resource Concern.

Priority for Funding:

High - Conversion of Cropland or Degraded Pasture (Pastureland Planting)
High - Management of Surface Water (Grade Stabilization Structure)
High - Management of Pastureland (Precision Land Forming)
High - Improvement of Irrigation Water Quality (Irrigation Land Leveling)
Medium - Mgmt of Pasture/Range (fencing, pipeline, water well & pump)
Low - Other

Eligible Practices and Cost Share Rates:

Limited Resource Producers - 90 percent
Beginning Farmers/Ranchers - 50 percent
Others - 50 percent

Practices will be cost shared based one of two methods either AC or AM as specified.

• AC Actual Cost, cost share earned is the number of units certified after completion, multiplied by the specified cost, multiplied by the cost share percentage.
  
• AM Average Cost not to exceed a Maximum, cost share earned is the number of units certified after completion, multiplied by the actual cost of the practice not to exceed the specified maximum, multiplied by the cost share percentage.

• aluminum pipe, $3.08 per diameter inch foot
  
• plastic pipe, $3.05 per diameter inch foot Points only for acres benefited

• $150 per acre

• $1.25 per foot

• Jiggs bermudagrass, $110 per acre
  
• Common bermudagrass, $83.00 per acre
  
• Cheyenne bermudagrass, $150.00 per acre
  
• Giant bermudagrass, $97.00 per acre
  
• Pensacola bahiagrass, $104.00 per acre
  
• Argentine bahiagrass, $150.00 per acre
  
• Tifton 9 bahiagrass - $150.00 per acre

• application of N,P,K $35 per acre
  
• application of Lime $40 per ton

• $18 per acre

• 1 inch PVC $.85 per foot
  
• 1 1/4 inch PVC $.95 per foot
  
• 1 1/2 inch PVC $1.00 per foot
  
• 2 inch PVC $1.15 per foot

• Submersible Pump, $3800.00 AM

• 6 foot fan with 21 foot tower $4475
  
• 6 foot fan with 27 foot tower $4775
  
• 8 foot fan with 21 foot tower $4775
  
• 8 foot fan with 27 foot tower $5075

• Trough, Precast Concrete, 400 gallons $935.00 per number
  
• Trough, Precast Concrete, 700 gallons $1050.00 per number
  
• Trough, Precast Concrete, 1600 gallons $1650.00 per number

• $12.75 per foot

• $1.30 per cubic yard

• $1.30 per cubic yard

Ranking Criteria:

• Pasture and Hayland Planting along with Nutrient Management and Pest Management for grass establishment 200 acres maximum Only allowed on fields with less than 50 percent desirable grasses. 50 points

• Grade Stabilization Structure along with Critical Area Planting. 40 points
  
• Precision Land Forming 200 acres maximum 30 points
  
• Irrigation Land Leveling 200 acres maximum 30 points
  
• Fencing 20 points
  
• Pipeline for livestock 20 points
  
• Pump for water control 20 points
  
• Water Well 20 points – Maximum 300 Feet

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