Programs

Find a Service Center

EQIP Program in Panola County

Updated 12/12/2005

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).

Panola County Office Information
Interested agricultural producers may apply in person at the Panola County USDA Service Center. Applicants may also request EQIP assistance by telephone, fax, e-mail, or letter.
Producers may apply under the county base or the special emphasis area criteria.

State Resource Concerns Priority Areas that include part of Panola 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
Limited Resource Farmer or Rancher	All

Objective:

The objective of the Panola County EQIP Local Work Group is to promote the use of conservation practices for protecting and improving natural resources throughout the county with primary emphasis on plant health.
A second objective of the Panola County EQIP Local Work Group is to promote the use of conservation practices for protecting and improving natural resources within the Special Emphasis Area with primary emphasis on plant health.

County EQIP Resource Concern:

For the 2006 program year in Panola County, the Local Work Group has identified plant health as the major resource concern.

Priority for Funding County Base:

High priority for funding consideration will be given to Pasture Planting, Tree Establishment, and Forest Stand Improvement conservation practices. Medium priority for funding consideration will be given to Fencing, Nutrient Management (Establishment/Incentive), and Pest Management (Establishment/Incentive) conservation practices. Low priority for funding consideration will be given to Ponds (Livestock Water), and Forest Site Preparation conservation practices.

Priority for Funding Special Emphasis Area:

High priority for funding consideration will be given to Tree Establishment .
Medium priority for funding consideration will be given to Fencing.
Low priority for funding consideration will be given to Forest Site Preparation.

Eligible Practices and Cost Share Rates County Base:

Limited Resource Producers – 90 percent
Beginning Farmer /Ranchers – 50 percent
Others – 50 percent

Practices will be cost shared based on the actual cost not to exceed a specified maximum. The amount of cost share earned will be the number of units certified after completion multiplied by the actual cost not to exceed a specified maximum, multiplied by the cost share percentage.

Cost sharing will be allowed for the following practices as identified in the Field Office Technical Guide:
(1) Pasture Planting and (2) Tree Establishment. For cost share consideration, these practices must be needed to significantly reduce concerns associated with Plant Health according to NRCS specifications and guidelines. For grass planting, cost share is allowed only on fields with less than 50 percent ground cover of desirable grasses.
Pasture Planting (512) Specified Maximum = $60.00 per acre for Common Bermuda seeded, $75.00 per acre for Bahia seeded, $120.00 per acre for Coastal Bermuda by sprigs, and $160.00 per acre for Improved Bermuda Hybrids by sprigs or tops.
Tree Establishment (612) Specified Maximum = $95.00 per acre for pine seedlings and planting operation, and $195.00 per acre for hardwood seedlings and planting operation.
Forest Stand Improvement (666) Pine Release = $90.00 per acre chemical release. Suitable sites of > than 300 trees per acre.
Fence (382) Specified maximum = $1.60 per foot of 4 strand barbed wire fence.
Nutrient Management (590) Specified maximum = $0.35 per pound of N,P,K for establishment based on current soils analysis, and $32.00 per ton of limestone for establishment based on current soils analysis.
Nutrient Management (590) Flat rate incentive payment = $10.00 per acre per year up to three years for soils with pH > 5.5, $25.00 per acre first year for soils with pH < 5.5, $15.00 per acre second year for soils with pH < 5.5, $10.00 per acre third year for soils with pH < 5.5. Current soils analysis required to determine application rates. For incentive payments this practice must be applied to established grasses according to NRCS specifications and guidelines.
Pest Management (595) Specified Maximum = $10.00 per acre for establishment only.
Pest Management (595) Flat rate incentive payment = $10.00 per acre. For incentive payments this practice must be applied to established grasses according to NRCS specifications and guidelines.
Pond (378) Specified maximum = $1.60 per cubic yard. Limit cubic yards to 3000 maximum per pond.
Forest Site Preparation (490) Specified maximum = $45.00 per acre for burning, $45.00 per acre for chemical banding, $30.00 per acre for shredding, $120.00 per acre for chemical aerial, and $250.00 per acre for mechanical site prep.

Eligible Practices and Cost Share Rates – Special Emphasis Area:

Ranking Criteria County Base:

High Priority – Pasture Planting – 50 points *
High Priority – Tree Establishment – 50 points #*
High Priority – Forest Stand Improvement – 50 points ^*

Medium Priority – Fencing – 25 points
Medium Priority – Nutrient Mgt. (Establishment/Incentive) 25 points
Medium Priority – Pest Mgt. (Establishment/Incentive) 25 points

Low Priority – Pond – Livestock Water (3000 cu. Yd. Maximum) 10 points
Low Priority – Forest Site Prep 10 points

Points will only be awarded for the highest priority practice to be implemented

*Treatment area distance from order 2 or greater creek on USGS topography map to be determined for additional points.
<200’	10 points	201-500’	8 points
501-1000’	5 points	>1000’	0 points

Program Requirement and Practice Considerations
#* Tree Establishment – Hardwoods and Pine

Forest Site Preparation is included with all tree planting practices as needed.

Pasture Planting cost share is only allowed on fields with <50 percent ground cover of desirable grasses. Nutrient Mgt. and Pest Mgt. will be applied with pasture planting. A current soils test will be required for nutrient management.

Nutrient Mgt. Incenive – Current soils test required.
Soil pH >5.5 – Incentive $10.00 per acre per year up to 3 years.
Soil pH <5.5 – Incentive $25.00 per acre first year, $15.00 per acre second year, and $10.00 per acre third year.

Ponds – Offered for livestock water for better distribution of grazing only. 3000 cubic yards maximum for ponds.

^* Forest Stand Improvement – Suitable sites of >300 trees per acre.

Practices not listed above are not eligible for EQIP Cost Shares.

Ranking Criteria Special Emphasis Area:

High Priority – Tree Establishment – 50 points #*

Medium Priority – Fencing – 25 points

Low Priority – Forest Site Prep 10 points - 10 points

Points will only be awarded for the highest priority practice to be implemented.

*Treatment area distance from order 2 or greater creek on USGS topography map to be determined for additional points.
<200’	10 points	201-500’	8 points
501-1000’	5 points	>1000’	0 points

< Back to EQIP