EQIP and WHIP Conservation Funds Remain Available: Maryland Farmers Need to Apply NOW

Last Modified: 01/30/2007

Annapolis, MD, January 29, 2007 ---Virginia (Ginger) L. Murphy, State Conservationist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Maryland, announced the extension of the timeframe for Maryland’s farmers to be considered for financial assistance in the USDA’s Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) (through February 28, 2007), and the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) (through February 16, 2007). Both conservation programs are part of the 2002 Farm Bill. NRCS has leadership responsibility within USDA for implementing EQIP and WHIP.

Farmers interested in installing conservation practices through EQIP or WHIP should contact their local NRCS or Soil Conservation District office, located at USDA Service Centers, for more information on the eligible conservation practices, the application process, and receiving conservation assistance. Information on these programs is available at www.md.nrcs.usda.gov.

Although, the application period for EQIP and WHIP is continuous, NRCS sets dates to rank received applications based on environmental benefits. The application deadline to be included in the next round of rankings is February 28 for EQIP and February 16 for WHIP.

“With conservation program funds still available in EQIP and WHIP, Maryland’s farmers should consider submitting applications now if they haven’t already applied for enrollment.” said Murphy. Although NRCS offices accept applications on a year-round basis, program applications are ranked periodically throughout the year to match funds to applications that carry the highest environmental benefits.

Environmental Quality Incentives Program: Maryland anticipates having EQIP funding levels of $6.7 million for 2007 contracts. EQIP practices can assist farmers in transitioning to organic agricultural production and improving the efficiency of their irrigation operations.

Practices eligible in the EQIP ranking pool categories include:

• Animal waste storage and management and related practices to include mortality issues,
• Erosion control and integrated crop management systems,
• Grazing systems,
• Biodiversity and forestry practices,
• Irrigation to include micro-irrigation and tailwater recovery systems,
• Poultry house windbreaks,
• Long term crop residue management, and a
• Pilot program for feed management in the Monocacy Watershed portions of Frederick and Carroll Counties.

EQIP provides cost-share assistance from 40 percent to 75 percent of the allowable cost of certain conservation practices, such as grassed waterways, filter strips, manure management facilities, contour buffer strips, livestock exclusion, and prescribed grazing. Incentive payments can be made for up to three years to encourage farmers to perform land management practices such as nutrient management, residue management, integrated pest management, and prescribed grazing.

Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program -- Maryland anticipates having WHIP funding levels of $463,406 for 2007 contracts. Farmers can enroll in WHIP to receive NRCS financial and technical assistance in the restoration of upland habitat (primarily native grasses and forbs), riparian buffers, shallow water areas, wetlands, and control of exotic invasive plants (such as Phragmites) when needed to restore native habitat. WHIP is an important conservation program for farmers because it provides opportunities for those who are interested in managing their lands for wildlife and restoring habitat that was lost due to intensive farming and urbanization.

Based on Maryland's identified wildlife habitat priorities, conservation practices eligible for WHIP funding in Maryland include those that involve the:

• Restoration and management of grassland habitat to benefit ground nesting birds and wildlife;
• Restoration and management of riparian corridor habitat to benefit terrestrial and aquatic species;
• Restoration and management of forested corridors that connect isolated woodland habitat patches to other patches or existing corridors;
• Restoration and management of shallow water and wetland habitat to benefit waterfowl, wading birds, and wildlife; and
• Restoration and management of native upland and wetland habitats where invasive species have become established and are adversely affecting habitat functions.

Conservation benefits provided through participation in WHIP will also reduce the impacts of invasive species by restoring habitats to their native plant communities.

NRCS is USDA’s lead conservation agency and has worked hand-in-hand with farmers, producers, and landowners for more than 70 years to conserve natural resources on private lands.