NRCS Maryland Announces Sign-up for $5.4 Million in EQIP Conservation Funding from USDA Farm Bill

Annapolis, Maryland, January 24, 2005 -- David P. Doss, State Conservationist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Maryland, announced that Maryland received approximately $5,473,223 in fiscal year 2005 conservation funding for financial assistance to Maryland's farmers through the USDA Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), part of the 2002 Farm Bill. NRCS has leadership responsibility within USDA for implementing EQIP.

The sign-up period for submitting an application for EQIP funds begins on January 24, 2005 and ends on March 25, 2005. Farmers 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 technical assistance through EQIP.

"Over the past nine years, NRCS Maryland has provided farmers with $23 million in EQIP funds to pay for conservation projects that address natural resource concerns and protect water quality," said Doss. "EQIP will help farmers address some of their most pressing local natural resource concerns. The conservation programs and increased funding levels provided by the 2002 Farm Bill offer farmers a tremendous opportunity to improve and conserve natural resources."

"Grazing practices and the development of Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plans will be a focus for EQIP this year," said Doss. "Incentive payments will be offered for grazing plans and CNMPs. Other local area priority concerns include forest stand improvement, riparian forest buffers, and reforestation, are eligible for cost-share assistance through EQIP. These forestry practices have been proven to be beneficial throughout Maryland and help to improve water quality and decrease soil erosion."

“Irrigation-related conservation practices are another local focus for the implementation of EQIP assistance in Maryland,” Doss said. “Landowners working in nurseries and orchards and with specialty crops can apply for assistance in improving the efficiency of irrigation systems, the management of irrigation water, and integrated pest management practices. The upgrading of irrigation systems for row crops is also eligible for cost-share assistance under EQIP.”

"EQIP provides farmers with a flexible and effective program that offers financial assistance to install conservation practices related to statewide and local concerns involving animal waste/manure storage, farmstead runoff control, soil erosion, nutrient management and cover crops, forestry, integrated pest management, and prescribed grazing," said Tom Heisler, NRCS Maryland EQIP Program Manager.

“In 2005, EQIP applications will be evaluated in either a statewide pool or a local, county-wide pool for funding,” said Heisler. Practices eligible in the statewide funding competition include: animal waste storage facilities, all related practices identified in the Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan (CNMP), composting facilities for animal mortality and animal manure, and closure of waste impoundments.

Practices eligible in the county-wide funding competition include: conservation systems and practices relating to cropland, grazing land, forest land, and irrigation/nurseries. These practices will be determined on a county-by-county basis to best address local conservation needs.

EQIP provides cost-share assistance from 25 percent to 75 percent of the 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, manure, and integrated pest management.

EQIP offers 1-10 year contracts that provide incentive payments and cost-sharing for conservation practices. Applications are accepted continuously throughout the year, then ranked and approved according to environmental benefits. EQIP applications received in NRCS field offices will be evaluated after sign-up closes on March 25, 2005.

EQIP incentive payments may be provided for up to three years to encourage producers to carry out management practices they may not otherwise use. Limited resource producers and beginning farmers and ranchers may be eligible for higher cost-share rates. Farmers and ranchers may elect to use a certified technical service provider for technical assistance. Total EQIP payments are limited to $450,000 per individual or entity for the length of the current Farm Bill – 2002 through 2007. Additional funding of cost-share practices or contracts may be available through Soil Conservation Districts and Maryland’s Conservation Partnership.

One emphasis for this conservation program is the leveraging of EQIP funds with other conservation programs to provide even greater stewardship of natural resources. In addition to USDA EQIP funding, the Maryland Department of Agriculture provides cost-share funds for selected conservation practices, and the combined conservation funding makes it possible for farmers to install conservation management systems that before would have been prohibitively expensive. The 2002 Farm Bill allows EQIP cost-share assistance to small operations and large confined livestock operations for the construction of animal waste storage or treatment facilities.

EQIP uses local work groups coordinated by Soil Conservation Districts to help evaluate and rank applications. The local work groups are made up of representatives from Maryland Soil Conservation Districts, NRCS, USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA), FSA County Committees, Maryland Cooperative Extension, and other federal, state, and local agencies interested in natural resource protection. Work groups review local applications that are then ranked according to natural resource concern priorities in Maryland and provide a basis for funding decisions.

“EQIP sign-up information is on the Internet on the NRCS Maryland homepage at www.md.nrcs.usda.gov in the Programs Section and is also available from the local NRCS office,” said Heisler. “In addition to the program application form, there is additional application information, a list of practices and costs, and specifics on Maryland’s ranking process, including criteria used to evaluate applications.”

NRCS is USDA’s lead conservation agency and has worked hand-in-hand with farmers and landowners for almost 70 years to conserve natural resources on private lands. Maryland’s landowners can learn more about conserving natural resources by contacting NRCS Maryland through USDA Service Centers collocated with their County’s Soil Conservation Districts.