EQIP Program in Red River 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).

Red River County Office Information

Interested agricultural producers may apply in person at the Red River 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 Red River County:

Objective:

The objective of the Red River County Local Work Group is to promote the use of conservation practices for improving the natural resources throughout the county.

County EQIP Resource Concern:

In Red River County for 2006, the Local Work Group has identified plant health and water quality as the major resource concerns.

Priority for Funding:

50 percent of funds will be used to address plant health concerns, 50 percent of funds will be used to address water quality concerns.

Eligible Practices and Cost Share Rates:

Cost Share Rates
Beginning Farmers and Ranchers - 60 percent
Limited Resource Producers - 90 percent
Others - 50 percent

Practices will be cost shared based on the established average cost of the practice not to exceed a maximum. 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 -

Ponds, Fencing, Pasture and Hayland Planting, and Critical Area Shaping

For cost share considerations, these practices must be needed to significantly improve Plant Health.

Ponds 378 - Units = 2500 cubic yard maximum, Average cost = $1.75 per cubic yard. Ponds will be offered for livestock water only if they will result in better distribution of grazing.

Critical Area Shaping 342 – 5 acres maximum. Average cost = $450 per acre for light shaping, $550 per acre for medium shaping, $700 per acre for heavy shaping. $55 per acre for Common Bermuda seeding, $80 per acre for Improved seeding, $135 per acre for sprigging.

Fence 382 - Units = 2640 feet maximum, Average cost = $2.25 per foot of a 4 strand barbed wire - $1.00 per foor of a 2 wire permanent electric fence - Energizers-Solar $300.00 per unit, Electric $160.00 per unit. Cost share will be offered for cross fencing only if it will facilitate better distribution of grazing.

Pasture and Hayland Planting 512 - Units = 100 acres maximum, Average cost = $80.00 per acre when planting seed and $135.00 per acre when planting sprigs or tops.

Nutrient Management 590 - Units = According to a current soil test recommendation, Average cost = $0.50 per pound of N, P and K. Cost share is for establishment of pasture and hayland and vegetation of critical area only.

Pest Management 595 - Units = 100 acres maximum, Average cost = $20.00 per acre, chemical or mechanical. Cost share is for establishment of pasture and hayland and vegetation of critical area only. Herbaceous weed control for newly established trees to be sprayed in the spring following planting of trees = $60.00 per acre.

Tree and Shrub Establishment

For cost share considerations, these practices must be needed to significantly improve Water Quality.

Tree and Shrub Establishment 612 - Units = 100 acres maximum, Average cost = $120.00 per acre for openland pine planting, $160.00 per acre for cutover pine planting, and $165.00 per acre for hardwood planting. Seedlings, the planting operation and gopher control in pine plantings are included in the average cost for tree and shrub establishment.

Forest Site Preparation 490 - Units = 100 acres maximum, Average cost = $120.00 per acre for chemical, $225.00 per acre for mechanical.

Ranking Criteria:

Plant Health

Pasture and Hayland Planting - 50 points
Ponds - 40 points
Fencing - 30 points
Critical Area Shaping – 20 points

Water Quality

Tree and Shrub Establishment - 50 points

Practice Distance from Named Water Body on USGS Topo Map

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
1001-1200 feet = 5 points
1201-1400 feet = 4 points
1401-1600 feet = 3 points
1601-1800 feet = 2 points
1801-2000 feet = 1 point

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