EQIP Program in Orange 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).

Orange County Office Information

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

Objective:

The objective of the 2006 EQIP program is to improve the natural resources of Orange 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 Tallowtrees).

County EQIP Resource Concern:

The Local Work Group has identified Water Quality as being the top resource concern in Orange County for cost share assistance in 2006. Increasing Water Quantity and control of invasive species Chinese tallow will be addressed through Statewide Resource Concerns.

Priority for Funding:

High - Conversion of cropland to pastureland
High - Conversion of cropland/Native Pastureland to Woodland
High - Improvement of degraded pastureland
Medium - Management of improved pastureland
Low - Other

Eligible Practices and Cost Share Rates:

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

State EQIP funds will be reserved for funding Limited Resource Producers.

Practices will be cost shared based on AC, AM, or FR.
AC - Average Cost - Cost share earned is the number of completed units certified, multiplied by the specified cost, multiplied by the cost share percentage.
AM - Actual Cost not to exceed a Maximum - Cost shared earned is the number of completed units certified, multiplied by the actual cost of the practice not to exceed the specified maximum, multiplied by the cost share percentage.
FR - Flat Rate

Eligible Cost

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

Fence 382 AC - Cross Fence
4 strand Barb Wire - $1.25 per foot
Net Wire Fence - $1.50 per foot
Grade Stabilization Structure 410 AM
aluminum pipe-$3.08 per diameter inch foot
plastic pipe-$3.05 per diameter inch foot
Critical Area Planting 342 AM - Used only with Grade Stabilization Structure
$150 per Acre
Pasture and Hayland Planting 512 AC - Eligible on fields with <80 percent ground cover and <50 percent desirable grasses
Jiggs bermudagrass - $110 per acre
Common bermudagrass - $83.00 per acre
Improved seeded bermudagrass - $97.00 per acre
Cheyenne Bermudagrass - $150.00 per acre
Pensacola bahiagrass - $104.00per acre
Argentine bahiagrass - $150.00 per acre
Tifton 9 bahiagrass - $150.00 per acre
Remove old levees - $0.18 per foot
Precision Land Forming – 462 AC – Used only in conjunction with Pasture and Hayland Planting on Non-wetland or Prior Converted Wetlands.
Precision Land Forming - $1.30 per Cubic Yard
Prescribed Grazing Incentive 528 FR - Used only with Pasture and Hayland Planting or Grade Stabilization Structure.
Prescribed Grazing Incentive - $10.00 per acre
Nutrient Management 590 AC - used only with Pasture and Hayland Planting and applied as per soil test recommendation. Current soil test should be taken
prior to completion of ranking.
application of N,P,K - $35.00 per acre
application of Lime - $40.00 per ton
Pest Management 595 AC - Use only with Pasture and Hayland Planting and applied within twelve months of planting.
Chemical or Mechanical - $18.00 per acre
Pipeline, Livestock 516 Ac
Pipe, 1 inch PVC,>200psi, Normal Install - $0.85 per foot
Pipe, 1 1/4 inch PVC,>200psi, Normal Install - $0.95 per foot
Pipe, 1 1/2 inch PVC,>200psi, Normal Install - $1.00 per foot
Pipe, 2 inch PVC,>200psi, Normal Install - $1.15 per foot
Pump for Water Control 533 AC Or AM
Submersible Pump, $3800.00 AM
Windmill 6 ft fan, pipe,cylinder,21 ft tower - $4,475.00 per number AC
Windmill 6 ft fan, pipe,cylinder,27 ft tower - $4,775.00 per number AC
Windmill 8 ft fan, pipe,cylinder,21 ft tower - $4,775.00 per number AC
Windmill 8 ft fan, pipe,cylinder,27 ft tower - $5,075.00 per number AC
Watering Facility 614 AC
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
Water Well 642 AM - 600 feet Maximum
$12.75 per foot
Forest Site Preparation 490 AC or AM - 100 Acres Maximum, Used in conjunction with Tree Planting
Chemical Site Preparation - $100.00 per acre AC
Mechanical Heavy-shearing, Piling, Bed - $375.00 per acre AM
Mechanical Heavy-shearing and Piling or mulching- $250.00 per acre AM
Mechanical Medium-shearing and bedding or mulching- $175.00 per acre AM
Mechanical Medium - Roller Chopping - $80.00 per acre AM
Mechanical Medium - With 3 in 1 plow - $185.00 per acre AM
Bedding - openland - $100.00 per acre AC
Mechnanical Light - Mow or disc - $25.00 per acre AC
Remove old levees - $0.18 per foot AC
Tree Planting 612 AC - 100 Acres Maximum
Bedding - $100.00 per acre
Tree/Shrub – Pine Tree Planting Machine Wildland with Trees - $105.00 per acre
Tree/Shrub – Pine Tree Planting Hand with Trees - $90.00 per acre
Hardwood Tree Planting Hand with trees - $180.00 per acre
Chemical release banding - $60.00 per acre
Chemical release pre-plant - $100.00 per acre
Chemcal release post-plant - $100.00 per acre

Ranking Criteria:

Water Quality

Conversion of cropland to Pastureland
Pasture and Hayland Planting to include Fence, Nutrient and Pest Management - 0 to 75 percent ground cover - 60 points

Conversion of cropland to Woodland
Tree Planting to include Site Preparation - 40 points

Conversion of Native Pasture to Woodland
Tree Planting to include Site Preparation - 40 points

Improvement of Degraded Pastureland
Pasture and Hayland Planting to include Fence, Nutrient and Pest Management - Less than 50 percent ground cover and 50 percent desirable species - 50 points

Pasture and Hayland Planting to include Fence, Nutrient and Pest Management - 51 to 75 percent ground cover and less than 50 percent desirable species - 40 points

Management of Improved Pastureland
Water Well - 30 points
Pipeline - 30 points
Windmill - 30 points

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