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EQIP Program in Van Zandt 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).

Van Zandt County Office Information

Interested agricultural producers may apply in person at the Van Zandt 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 Van Zandt 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 Van Zandt County EQIP Local Work Group, LWG, is to promote the use of conservation practices for improving the natural resources throughout the county with major emphasis on reducing soil erosion due to water.

County EQIP Resource Concern:

The Van Zandt County LWG has identified Soil Erosion as the major resource concern for 2006.

Eligible Practices and Cost Share Rates:

Limited Resource Producers – 90 Percent
Beginning Farmers/Ranchers – 60 percent
Others – 50 percent

Practices will be cost shared based on the actual cost not to exceed average cost, AA, of the practice. The amount of cost share earned will be the number of units certified after completion multiplied by the AA, multiplied by the cost share percentage. Incentive payments are a flat rate, FR. The amount of the payment earned will be the number of units certified after completion multiplied by the FR. Applicants are eligible for incentive payments only when practices are not currently being applied according to NRCS specifications. Cost sharing will be allowed for the following practices as identified in the Field Office Technical Guide

Pasture and Hayland Planting 512 - Maximum of 100 acres. Pasture planting cost share is only allowed on fields with less than 50 percent ground cover of desirable grasses. Nutrient management and pest management will be applied with pasture planting. Brush Management will be applied when needed for establishment of pasture or hayland.

  • Overseeding Legumes - $70.00 per acre. Legumes planted with cost share will be managed for reseeding. Includes seedbed preparation, seeding operation, seed cost, and inoculants.
  • Seeded Perennial Grasses - $110 per acre. Includes seedbed preparation, seeding operation, and seed cost.
  • Sprigging Bermudagrass - $125 per acre. Includes seedbed preparation, sprigs, and sprigging operation.
  • Nutrient Management 590 - For establishment only. A soil analysis not over 1 year old from the Stephen F. Austin State Soils Lab or the Texas A and M Soil Testing Lab is required. Nutrients must be applied according to analysis.
    Lime - $37.00 per ton
    Nitrogen, Phosphorous, and Potassium - $0.35 per pound AA of actual element.
  • Pest Management 595 - For establishment only.
    Chemical Weed Control - $18.00 per acre
  • Brush Management 314 - For establishment only.
    Tree Doze - Heavy - $550.00 per acre
    Tree Doze - Normal - $400.00 per acre
  • Brush Management 314 - A flat rate incentive payment of $35.00 per acre. Incentive is only available to acres where brush management was cost shared as a part of Pasture and Hay establishment. May apply for 1, 2, or 3 years of incentive payments.

    Range Planting 550     - Maximum of 100 acres. Range planting cost share is only allowed on fields with less than 50 percent ground cover of desirable grasses. Nutrient management and pest management will be applied with range planting for establishment. Brush Management will be applied when needed for establishment of rangeland.
  • $110.00 per acre - Includes seedbed preparation, seeding operation, and seed cost.
  • Nutrient Management 590 - For establishment only. A soil analysis not over 1 year old from the Stephen F. Austin State Soils Lab or the Texas A and M Soil Testing Lab is required. Nutrients must be applied according to anaylsis.
    Lime - $37.00 per ton
    Nitrogen, Phosphorous, and Potassium - $0.35 per pound of actual element.
  • Pest Management 595 - For establishment only.
    Chemical Weed Control - $18.00 per acre
  • Brush Management 314 - For establishment only.
    Tree Doze - Heavy - $550.00 per acre
    Tree Doze - Normal - $400.00 per acre
  • Brush Management 314 - A flat rate incentive payment of $35.00 per acre. Incentive is only available to acres where brush management was cost shared as a part of Range Planting. May apply for 1, 2, or 3 years of incentive payments.

    Grade Stabilization Structure 410 or Pond 378     - Maximum of 3000 cubic yards. Critical area planting, nutrient management and pest management will be applied with the grade stabilization structure or pond. A barrel will be installed in the Grade Stabilization Structure or pond when needed to meet NRCS specifications.

  • Earthmoving - $1.60 per cubic yard
  • Barrel - $2.50 per diameter foot for smooth steel or PVC.
  • Critical Area Planting 342 - Includes seedbed preparation, sprigs, and sprigging operation.
    $150.00 per acre

    Nutrient Management 590     - For establishment only. A soil analysis not over 1 year old from the Stephen F. Austin State Soils Lab or the Texas A and M Soil Testing Lab is required. Nutrients must be applied according to analysis.
    Lime - $37.00 per ton
    Nitrogen, Phosphorous, and Potassium - $0.35 per pound of actual element.
  • Pest Management 595 - For establishment only.
    Chemical Weed Control - $18.00 per acre
    Critical Area Planting 342 - Includes shaping, seedbed preparation, sprigs, and sprigging operation. Nutrient management and pest management will be applied with critical area planting.

  • Extra Heavy Shaping - $1,00.00 per acre
  • Heavy Shaping - $700.00 per acre
  • Medium Shaping - $550.00 per acre
  • Light Shaping - $300.00 per acre
  • Nutrient Management 590 - For establishment only. A soil analysis not over 1 year old from the Stephen F. Austin State Soils Lab or the Texas A and M Soil Testing Lab is required. Nutrients must be applied according to analysis.
    Lime - $37.00 per ton
    Nitrogen, Phosphorous, and Potassium - $0.35 per pound of actual element.
  • Pest Management 595 - For establishment only.
    Chemical Weed Control - $18.00 per acre

    Nutrient Management 590 - A flat rate incentive payment. A soil analysis not over 1 year old from the Stephen F. Austin State Soils Lab or the Texas A and M Soil Testing Lab is required before application will be ranked. Producer may apply for 1, 2, or 3 years of incentive payments.

  • pH >= 5.5 - $25.00 per acre for up to 3 years.
  • Soil pH is < 5.5 - $40.00 per acre the first year, $30.00 per acre the second year, and $25.00 per acre the third year.

    Fence 382 - Cross fences are eligible for cost share to improve grazing distribution. Boundary fences are not eligible.

  • $1.80 per foot

    Ranking Criteria:

    Points will be awarded for only one practice.  Ranking factors for practices will use Highly Erodible Land factor, HEL, and Soil Erodibility, K, of the predominant soil. HEL factors for highly erodible soils equals 3, potentially highly erodible soils equals 2, and non highly erodible soils equals 1. The K factor will be the K for the predominant soil.

    HEL Cropland to Improved Pasture or Range - Points will be awarded by multiplying HEL by K by 200.
    NHEL Cropland to Improved Pasture or Range -Points will be awarded by multiplying HEL by K by 175.
    Pasture Planting 512 and Range Planting 550 - Points will be awarded by multiplying HEL by K by 100.
    Critical Area Planting 342 - Points will be awarded by multiplying HEL by K by 75.
    Grade Stabilization Structure - Points will be awarded by multiplying HEL by K by 75.

    Nutrient Management Incentive 590
    pH < 5.0 - Points will be awarded by multiplying HEL by K by 30.
    pH 5.0 - 5.5 - Points will be awarded by multiplying HEL by K by 25.
    pH 5.6 - 6.0 - Points will be awarded by multiplying HEL by K by 20.
    pH >6.0 - Points will be awarded by multiplying HEL by K 15.

    Pond - Points will be awarded by multiplying HEL by K by 10.
    Fence - Points will be awarded by multiplying HEL by K by 5.

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