EQIP Program in Waller 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).

Waller County Office Information

Interested agricultural producers may apply in person at the Waller 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 Waller County:

Objective:

The objectives of the Waller County EQIP Local Work Group LWG are to promote the use of conservation practices for improving the natural resources throughout the county. The major resource concerns are grazingland and hayland plant productivity and health, soil condition on cropland, the need to conserve irrigation water, and encroachment of invasive brush species.

County EQIP Resource Concern:

In Waller County for 2006, the Local Work Group LWG has identified two resource concerns for cost share assistance this year. Plants, Productivity and Health is the primary resource concern. The secondary resource concern is Soil Condition; Tilth, Infiltration, Organic Matter.

Priority for Funding

Funds - 75 percent of the funds will be available for the Plants, Productivity and Health resource concern and 25 percent of the funds will be available for the Soil Condition; Tilth, Infiltration, Organic Matter resource concern. Limited Resource Farmers/Ranchers will be ranked under the county base criteria, but will be funded from a statewide resource concern.

Eligible Practices and Cost Share Rates:

Limited Resource Farmers/Ranchers - 90 percent
Beginning Farmers/Ranchers - 50 percent
All Others - 50 percent

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

Plants, Productivity and Health Resource Concern:

Brush Management (314) - Limited to treatment of Mesquite, Huisache, and/or McCartney rose. Limit acres to be cost shared to a maximum of 75 acres per producer for mechanical treatment and 175 acres for chemical treatment. For mechanical treatment, a one year light chemical follow-up treatment is included. Average Cost = $45.00 per acre chemical - light infestation, $65.00 per acre chemical - medium infestation, $85.00 per acre chemical - heavy infestation, $200.00 per acre light tree doze, $350.00 per acre medium tree doze, or $500.00 per acre heavy tree doze. If mechanical brush treatment is applied and results in more than 25 percent of the treated area having bare ground, Pasture and Hayland Planting (512) or Range Planting (550) must also be applied. Prescribed Grazing (528A) will be required for all chemical only treatments. The lifespan of this practice is 10 years.

Prescribed Grazing (528A) - This is a required practice for chemical Brush Management (314). Defer grazing following chemical brush treatment. Deferment will be 90 days during current growing season if treatment occurs during spring or summer or deferment will be 90 days the following growing seasons if treatment occurs in fall or winter. Grazing will then be managed for a 3 inch stubble height for Hybrid bermudagrass, Common bermudagrass, and/or Bahiagrass. Limit incentive payment to one year and a maximum of 175 acres. Incentive rate = $10.00 per acre. The lifespan of this practice is 1 year.

Pasture and Hayland Planting (512) - Eligible for pastures with < 50 percent of desirable grasses or for the over-seeding of established pastures with legumes. Establishment by seed, sprigs or tops. Limit acres to be cost shared to a maximum of 75 acres per producer. Average Cost = $125.00 per acre for sprigs/tops or $90.00 per acre for seeded grasses. Average Cost = $50.00 per acre for legume establishment. Nutrient Management (590) and Pest Management (595) for establishment of grasses only must also be applied for this practice. The lifespan of this practice is 10 years.

Range Planting (550) - Eligible for pastures with < 50 percent of desirable grasses. Limit acres to be cost shared to a maximum of 75 acres per producer. Average Cost = $125.00 per acre for native grasses only or $135.00 per acre for native grass-forb mixtures with 10 percent or more of forbs. Nutrient Management (590) for establishment must also be applied for this practice. Pest Management (595) for establishment must also be applied for this practice. The lifespan of this practice is 10 years.

Nutrient Management (590) - Eligible for the application of nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, potash, and lime) according to current soil test analysis for establishment of pastures, legumes, or native grasses. Limit payment to one year and a maximum of 75 acres per producer. This is a required practice for Pasture and Hayland Planting (512) and Range Planting (550). Actual Cost not to exceed $125.00 per acre of pH of <=5.4 NPK plus lime or $70.00 per acre for pH >=5.5 NPK only. A current soil test analysis must be provided to NRCS prior to funding of application. The lifespan of this practice is 1 year.

Pest Management (595) - Chemical control of weeds after pasture establishment. Limit payment to one year and a maximum of 75 acres per producer. This is a required practice for Pasture and Hayland Planting (512) and Range Planting (550). Average Cost = $15.00 per acre. Also eligible, a one year incentive payment for chemical treatment of weeds in existing pastures only. Limit incentive payment to one year and a maximum of 75 acres per producer. Incentive rate = $10.00 per acre. The lifespan of this practice is 1 year

Fence (382) - Cost share for a four strand barbed wire, two wire electric, or three wire electric. Average Cost = $1.50 per foot for four strand barbed wire, $0.60 per foot for three wire electric or $0.55 for two wire electric, $350.00 per unit for energizer and components, or $450.00 per unit for solar energizer and components. The lifespan of this practice is 20 years.

Pond (378) - Eligible only to provide water for livestock and to improve grazing distribution by livestock. Cost share limited to no more than 3,500 cubic yards. Average Cost = $1.50 per cubic yard. Critical Area Planting (342) will be applied on any disturbed areas above the waterline. The lifespan of this practice is 20 years.

Critical Area Planting (342) - Establishing vegetation on disturbed areas above the waterline. This is eligible for pond construction only. Average cost = $100.00 per acre for seeding operation and $150.00 per acre for sprigging operation. The lifespan of this practice is 10 years.

Pipeline (516) - Eligible only to provide water for livestock and to improve grazing distribution by livestock. Cost share provided for installation and materials. Average Cost = $1.25 per foot. The lifespan of this practice is 20 years.

Well (642) - Eligible only to provide water for livestock and to improve grazing distribution by livestock. Cost share provided for installation and materials. Average Cost = $22.00 per foot. The lifespan of this practice is 20 years.

Heavy Use Area Protection (561) - Eligible for limited access to ponds only Fence must be 4 strand barbed wire or 3 strand electric fence. Average Cost = $8.00 per square yard for geotextile and installation, $200.00 per acre for light site preparation, $450.00 for medium site preparation, $800 per acre for heavy site preparation, $33.00 per cubic yard for coarse gravel, $5.00 per foot for fence-treated post and boards, $1.50 per foot for fence-four strand barbed wire, $0.60 per foot for fence-three strand electric, and $450.00 per unit for solar energizer and components. The lifespan of this practice is 10 years.
Soil Condition; Tilth, Infiltration, Organic Matter:
Residue and Tillage Management; No-Till/Strip-Till/Direct Seed (329) - Incentive payment to producers who have not previously followed no-till farming standards and specifications. Payment to be made following the crop planted during the second year of the crop rotation into no-tilled residue. Limit incentive payment maximum of two years and a maximum of 150 acres. Incentive rate = $75.00 per acre. The lifespan of this practice is 1 year.

Residue and Tillage Management; Mulch Till (345) - Incentive payment to producers who agree to reduce their normal tillage operations from 3 or more tillage operations down to 2 tillage operations or reduce their normal tillage operations from 2 tillage operations down to 1 tillage operations from time crop is harvest until next years crop is planted. Payments to be made following the crop planted during the second year of the crop rotation. Limit incentive payment to a maximum of two years and a maximum of 150 acres. Incentive rate = $50.00 per acre for 1 tillage operation or Incentive rate = $40.00 per acre for 2 tillage operations. The lifespan of this practice is 1 year.

Ranking Criteria:

Brush Management (314)
Chemical Light - 10 percent to 30 percent canopy cover --- 35 points.
Chemical Medium - 31 percent to 49 percent canopy cover --- 40 points.
Chemical Heavy - > 50 percent canopy cover --- 45 points.
Prescribed Grazing (528A) - Required for Chemical Brush Management.
Mechanical Light - 10 percent to 30 percent canopy cover --- 20 points.
Mechanical Medium - 31 percent to 49 percent canopy cover --- 25 points.
Mechanical Heavy - > 50 percent canopy cover --- 30 points.
Pasture Planting (512) or Range Planting (550) - Required for Mechanical Brush Management.

Pasture and Hayland Planting (512)
Pastures with < 50 percent cover of desirable grasses --- 20 points.
Over-seeding of Legumes into Permanent Grass --- 20 points.
Range Planting (550)
Pastures with < 50 percent cover of desirable grasses --- 25 points.
Nutrient Management (590) - Required for Pasture Planting and Range Planting.
Pest Management (595) - Required for Pasture Planting and Range Planting.

Fence (382)
Electric Fence 2 or 3 wires --- 25 points.
Barbed Wire Fence 4 strand minimum --- 25 points.
Pond (378)
Pond without limited access --- 5 points.
Critical Area Treatment (342) - Required for any disturbed areas above water line.

Well (642)
Well Only --- 5 points.

Pipeline (516)
Pipeline only --- 20 points.

Well (642) and Pipeline (516)
Combination well and pipeline --- 15 points.

Heavy Use Protection (561)
Limited access to pond --- 20 points.

Pest Management (595)
Chemical treatment of weeds in established pastures only --- 5 points.

A score of < 25 points will be Low Priority - 26 to 54 points will be Medium Priority - and > 55 points will be high priority.

For all practices outlined above, NRCS will do site evaluations, surveys, designs, and measurements to determine if practices are eligible. NRCS will determine satisfactory completion of all practices and will assist participants in satisfactory installation/completion of scheduled practices. Participants agree to install practices according to NRCS standards and specifications and maintain practices for the life of the practice.

Ranking Criteria (Soil Condition; Tilth, Infiltration, Organic Matter):
Residue and Tillage Management; No-Till (329)
No Till/Strip-Till/Direct Seed Operation --- 30 points.

Residue and Tillage Management; Mulch Till (345)
1 tillage operation --- 20 points.
2 tillage operations --- 10 points.

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