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EQIP Program in Newton 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).

Newton County Office Information

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

Specific State Concern State Resource Concern
AFO-CAFO -Poultry  Water Quality/Air Quality
AFO-CAFO -Swine  Water Quality/Air Quality
AFO-CAFO-Beef Water Quality/Air Quality
AFO-CAFO -Dairy  Water Quality/Air Quality
Salt Cedar  Invasive Species 
Chinese Tallow Invasive Species 
Longleaf Pine-Bobwhite Quail-Red Cockaded Woodpecker Wildlife
Reforestation Plant Condition
Limited Resource Farmer or Rancher All

Objective:

The objective of the Newton County EQIP LWG is to promote the use of conservation practices for improving the natural resources throughout the county. One of the major resource concerns is water quality in streams and lakes.

County EQIP Resource Concern:

In Newton County for 2006, the LWG has identified Water Quality as the major resource concern.

Priority for Funding:

Applications meeting the Newton County Resource concern will be ranked. Funding will begin with the High priority applications. As funds are available, applications with a Medium ranking will be funded followed by applications with a Low priority. In the event that applications receive the same amount of points, ties will be broken using random numbers assigned by the PROTRACTS system. Applications not meeting the resource concern of water quality will not be ranked.

Eligible Practices and Cost Share Rates:

Cost Share Rates

Limited Resource Producers - 90 percent
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 percentage.

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

I Pasture Planting Code 512 – Units = Acres
For cost share consideration, these practices must be needed to significantly impact water quality according to NRCS specifications and guidelines.

1. Average Cost for sprigged grasses = $120.00 per acre including seedbed preparation and planting.
Nutrient Management – 590 As specified in a current soil test analysis report. This is for establishment only.

  • N,P and K for establishment – units = lbs, average cost = $0.35 per lb
  • Lime – units = ton – average cost = $45.00

    2. Average Cost for seeded grasses = $90.00 per acre including seed, seedbed preparation and planting
    Nutrient Management – 590 As specified in a current soil test analysis report.
  • This is for establishment only.
  • N,P and K for establishment – units = lbs, average cost = $0.35 per lb
  • Lime – units = ton – average cost = $45.00

    3. Average cost for seeding legumes
  • Vetch = $45.00 per acre
  • La. S1 white clover = $39.00 per acre
  • Crimson clover = $54.00 per acre
  • Arrow leaf clover = $38 per acre.
    Nutrient Management – 590 As specified in a current soil test analysis report. This is for establishment only.
  • N,P and K for establishment – units = lbs, average cost = $0.35 per lb
  • Lime – units = ton – average cost = $45.00

    II Tree Establishment 612
    1. Pine Planting Operation – units = acres, average cost = $60.00 per acre
    2. Hardwood Planting Operation - units = acres, average cost = $90.00 per acre
    3. Loblolly Pine Seedlings – units = number, average cost = $0.07 per number
    4. Longleaf Pine Seedlings in tubes - units = number, average cost = $0.18 per number
    5. Hardwood Seedlings- units = number, average cost = $0.30 per number
    6. Chemical Release – Banding – units = acres, average cost = $50.00 per acre

    III Forest Site Preparation 490 – Unit = Acres
    1. Site preparation – Heavy (shear & pile etc.) = $250.00 per acre
    2. Site preparation – Medium (roller chopper etc.) = $100.00 per acre
    3. Site preparation – Light (mowing etc) = $25.00 per acre
    4. Site preparation, Chemical (pre plant or post plant) = $138.00 per acre
    5. Site preparation, Burn (after a chemical spray) = $43.00 per acre
    6. Site preparation, 3 in 1 plow = $195.00 per acre
    7. Site preparation, Bedding = $125.00 per acre
    8. Site preparation, Disking = $100.00 per acre

    IV Forest Stand Improvement – Unit = Acres
    Chemical (aerial or broadcast) = $86.00 per acre
     

    Ranking Criteria:

    Points will only be awarded for conservation practices that address the resource concern identified for the county and meets the Natural Resources Conservation Services Field Office Technical Guide standards and specifications. Applications with practices requiring nutrient management 590, or where nutrients will be applied, must have a soil analysis prior to the application being ranked and completed.
     
      Points Priority
    1. Forest Practices    
  • Tree Planting

    		•     
    Planting on Highly Erodible Land 75 High
    Planting on Non Highly Erodible Land 50 Medium
    Riparian Forest Buffer 75 High
  • Forest Stand Improvement
    		•     
    Improvement on Highly Erodible Land 75 High
    Improvement on Non Highly Erodible Land 50 Medium
    2. Pasture and Hayland Practices    
  • Greater than 50 percent cover of a manageable species
    		• 0 Low
  • Less than 50 percent cover of a manageable species on Highly Erodible Land
    		•  75 High
  • Less than 50 percent cover of a manageable species on Non Highly Erodible Land
    		•  50 Medium
  • Over seeding Legumes
    		•  20 Medium

    Practices not listed above are low priority and are not eligible for EQIP Cost-Share.

    Cost-share rates for Limited Resource Producers will no exceed 75 percent of the average
    cost established by the NRCS.

    At least 25 percent of the field must be Highly Erodible to receive the Highly Erodible Points.

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