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EQIP Program in San Augustine 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).

San Augustine County Office Information

Interested agricultural producers may apply in person at the San Augustine 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 San Augustine 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 objectives of the San Augustine County EQIP Local Work Group (LWG) are to promote the use of conservation practices for improving the natural resources throughout the county with major emphasis on improving plant health. Plant health will be improved by providing a better utilization of grazing with the control of McCartney Rose in pastures and hay fields.

County EQIP Resource Concern:

In San Augustine County for 2006, the LWG has identified Plant Health as the major resource concern. By providing cost share for brush management, improved control of McCartney rose in pastures, hayland and native grass fields will be achieved.

Priority for Funding:

Limited Resource Producers - 90 Percent
Beginning Farmers and Ranchers - 50 Percent
All Others - 50 Percent

Practices will be cost shared based on the actual cost not to exceed a specified maximum or AM, as per an approved contract. The amount of cost share earned will be the number of units certified after completion, multiplied by the actual cost not to exceed the specified maximum average cost, multiplied by the cost share rate.

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

Eligible Practices and Cost Share Rates:

Pasture Planting (512) – Units = Acres, Cost share rate = 50 Percent

  • Average cost for sprigged grasses = $170.00 per Acre
  • Average cost for seeded grasses = $ 70.00 per Acre
  • Average cost for over seeding legumes = $ 65.00 per Acre
  • Includes seedbed preparation and planting.

    Nutrient Management for Grass Establishment (590) Units = Acres, Cost Share Rate = 50 Percent
  • Average cost for NPK = $85.00 per Acre
  • Average cost for Agricultural Lime = $44.00 per Ton
  • Limited to the First Year of Grass Establishment

    Weed Control for Grass Establishment (595) Units = Acres, Cost share rate = 50 Percent
  • Average cost Mechanical Control = $20.00 per Acre
  • Average cost Chemical Control = $25.00 per Acre
  • Limited to the First Year of Grass Establishment

    Fencing (382) Units = Feet, Cost share rate = 50 Percent
  • Average cost = $1.90 per Foot
  • Limited to cross fences only.
  • Fencing will be based on a rotational system based to carry 7 animal units or more.

    Tree Planting (612) – Unit = Acres, Cost share rate = 50 Percent
  • Average cost for pine planting = $120.00 per Acre
  • Average cost for hardwood planting = $200.00 per Acre
  • Average cost for longleaf pine = $210.00 per Acre
  • Includes seedlings and planting operation.

    Woodland Site Preparation (490) - Unit = Acres, Cost Share = 50 Percent
    Average Cost based on site conditions:
  • Cutover needing shearing and piling = $280.00 per Acre
  • Cutover needing chemical application = $90.00 per Acre
  • Openland needing banding = $50.00 per Acre
  • Openland needing ripping = $75.00 per Acre

    Brush Management (314) - Unit = Acres, Cost Share = 50 Percent
    Average Cost based on site conditions:
  • First Year Treatment = $45.00 per Acre
  • Second Year Treatment = $45.00 per Acre
  • Third Year Treatment = $20.00 per Acre

    Critical Area Treatment (342) - Unit = Acres, Cost Share = 50 Percent
    Average Cost based on site conditions:
  • Shaping Heavy = $1000.00 per Acre
  • Shaping Medium = $800.00 per Acre
  • Shaping Light = $400.00 per Acre
  • Vegetation = $250.00 per Acre

    Ponds (378) - Unit = Acres, Cost Share = 50 Percent
    Average Cost based on site conditions:
  • Excavation = $3.00 cu yd
  • Ponds limited to a maximum of 3000 cu yd
  • Ponds limited livestock use only and must be used to distribute grazing.

    Watering Facility (614) - Unit = Number, Cost Share = 50 Percent
    Average Cost based on site conditions:
  • Troughs and materials = $270.00 No.
  • Limited livestock use only and must be used to distribute grazing.

    Pipeline (516) - Unit = Feet, Cost Share = 50 Percent
    Average Cost based on site conditions:
  • Pipe and Installation = $2.00 Ft.
  • Limited livestock use only and must be used to distribute grazing.

    Water Wells (642) - Unit = Number, Cost Share = 50 Percent
    Average Cost based on site conditions:
  • Well, Pump, and Storage Tank = $10,000.00 No.
  • Limited livestock use only and must be used to distribute grazing.

    Ranking Criteria:

    Brush Management (314) limited to McCartney Rose control

    Note: Conservation practices planned and installed through EQIP must adhere to HEL and Wetland regulations. Practices that would lead to a violation will not be ranked.

    Brush Management – 50 Points

    Note: Average cost estimates are based on intensity of McCartney Rose Encroachment.

    Encroachment
  • Heavy Encroachment is Rose encroachment that is greater than 50 Percent
  • Medium Encroachment is Rose encroachment that is between 50 and 10 Percent
  • Light Encroachment is Rose encroachment that is less than 10 Percent

    Grass Planting

  • Perennial grass will be planted after rose control is obtained and between second and third year of control efforts.

    Grazing Deferment

  • Cattle will be deferred for 90 days during the growing season in the spring following fall treatments to allow forage vegetation time to recover.

    Tree Planting

    Note: Conservation practices planned and installed through EQIP must adhere to HEL and Wetland regulations. Practices that would lead to a violation will not be ranked.

    Tree Planting – 40 Points

    Pasture & Hayland Planting (512)

    Note: Conservation practices planned and installed through EQIP must adhere to HEL and Wetland regulations. Practices that would lead to a violation will not be ranked.

    Pasture Planting – 30 Points

    Note:
  • Planting permanent grasses are eligible only on stands with ground cover less than 50 Percent base grass.
  • Legume plantings must be deferred from grazing to allow reseeding to occur.
  • Pest Management will be utilized to control competing vegetation.
  • Fertilizer nutrients will be applied according to a current soils analysis.

    Fencing

    Note: Conservation practices planned and installed through EQIP must adhere to HEL and Wetland regulations. Practices that would lead to a violation will not be ranked.

    Fencing – 30 Points

    Note:
  • Limited to cross fences only.
  • Fencing will be based on a rotational system based to carry 7 animal units or more.

    Critical Area Treatment

    Note: Conservation practices planned and installed through EQIP must adhere to HEL and Wetland regulations. Practices that would lead to a violation will not be ranked.

    Critical Area Treatment – 30 Points

    Ponds

    Note: Conservation practices planned and installed through EQIP must adhere to HEL and Wetland regulations. Practices that would lead to a violation will not be ranked.

    Ponds – 20 Points

  • Ponds limited to 3000 cu yd maximum.
  • Offered for livestock water for better distribution of grazing only.
  • Critical Area Planting will be applied with pond construction to establish vegetation on disturbed area above waterline.

    Watering Facility

    Trough & Pipeline – 20 Points
  • Offered for livestock water for better distribution of grazing only.

    Treatment area distance from named creek on USGS topography map will be determined for additional points:

  • <200 feet = 10 points
  • 201 to 400 feet = 9 points
  • 401 to 800 feet = 8 points
  • 801 to 1000 feet = 7 points
  • 1000 to 1501 feet = 6 points
  • 1501 to 2000 feet = 5 points
  • >2000 feet = 0 points

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