EQIP Program in Smith 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).

Smith County Office Information

Interested agricultural producers may apply in person at the Smith County USDA Service Center. Applicants may also request EQIP assistance by telephone, Fax, e-mail, or letter.

Darin Smith, District Conservationist

State Resource Concerns Priority Areas that include part of Smith County:

Objective:

The objectives of the Smith County EQIP LWG are to promote the use of conservation practices that will improve natural resources in the county by increasing permanent vegetative cover and reducing nutrients and sediment flowing into lake and streams. Conservation practices will improve water quality and reduce erosion.

County EQIP Resource Concern:

In Smith County for 2006, the LWG identified Water Quality as the priority resource concern for cost share assistance.

Priority for Funding:

Priority will be determined following the established ranking criteria. Applications will be ranked according to the land unit’s needs and producer objectives. Applications will be funded starting with highest priority to the lowest priority. Refer to the criteria and ranking section for further details.

Eligible Practices and Cost Share Rates:

Practices will be cost-shared based on the established average cost of the practice. Incentives will be offered based on a flat rate. Cost share earned will be the number of units certified after completion multiplied by the average cost multiplied by the cost share rate. Incentives will be the units completed multiplied by the flat rate established.

Practices (cost shared):

Fence (382)- Cost share rate - 50%
Cost share rate - 70% Beginning Farmers
Cost share rate - 90% Limited Resource Farmers
Average Cost: $1.60/ft.

Pond (378)-Cost share rate - 50%,
Cost share rate - 70% Beginning Farmers
Cost share rate - 90% Limited Resource Farmers
Limited to 3500 cubic yards by LWG. Pond must serve >25 acres.
Average Cost = $2.25/cubic yard.

Pasture Planting (512)-Cost share rate - 50%
Cost share rate - 70% Beginning Farmers
Cost share rate - 90% Limited Resource Farmers
Average Cost - $120.00/ac. Sprigging
Average Cost - $75.00/ac. Seeded Varieties
Average Cost - $60.00/ac. Overseeding (Legumes)


Nutrient Management (590)-Cost share rate - 50%
Cost share rate - 70% Beginning Farmers
Cost share rate - 90% Limited Resource Farmers
Average Cost - $100.00/ac.

Forest Site Preparation (490)-Cost share rate - 50%
Cost share rate - 70% Beginning Farmers
Cost share rate - 90% Limited Resource Farmers
Average Cost: Open Land $65.00/ac.
Cut Over Land $300.00/ac.

Tree Planting (612)-Cost share rate - 50%
Cost share rate - 70% Beginning Farmers
Cost share rate - 90% Limited Resource Farmers
Average Cost: Open Land $86.00/ac.
Cut Over Land $100.00/ac.

Ranking Criteria:

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