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Utah 2008 EQIP Sign-Up and Application InformationGeneral Program Description
The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) is a voluntary conservation program from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). The program promotes agricultural production and environmental quality as compatible goals. EQIP offers financial and technical assistance to assist eligible participants install or implement structural and management conservation practices on eligible agricultural land. EQIP offers contracts with a minimum term that ends one year after the implementation of the last scheduled practice. EQIP activities are carried out according to a conservation plan of operations developed with the program participants. Conservation practices are subject to Utah NRCS standards and specifications. Farmers and ranchers may elect to use a certified Technical Service Provider for technical assistance, if available. Contracts with confined animal feeding operations (CAFO) are required to develop and implement a comprehensive nutrient management plan (CNMP). Contracts funded with EQIP Ground and Surface Water Conservation funds will implement conservation measures that result in a net water savings in the agricultural operation of the producer. An individual or entity may not receive, directly or indirectly, cost-share or incentive payments that, in the aggregate, exceed $450,000 for all EQIP contracts entered into during the term of the 2002 Farm Bill. Beginning Farmers/Ranchers and Limited Resource Farmers/Ranchers are eligible for a higher payment rate. Certification that participants meet these requirement is made on the application form. NRCS will establish application evaluation periods and a cut-off date each year when funds must be obligated. Applications can be taken at any time during the year. Sign-up is conducted at local USDA Service Centers. EQIP is a competitive program. Since program implementation in 1997, demand for EQIP financial assistance in Utah has greatly exceeded the funds available. Producers should not hesitate to sign-up for the program if they have a resource concern the program seeks to address that needs to be treated. NRCS is available for assistance to determine if a resource concern exists on the site. How EQIP Works in UtahThe Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) provides cost share and incentive payments to implement conservation practices on eligible agricultural land. It is a voluntary program that promotes environmental quality in agricultural production. EQIP was reauthorized in the 2002 Farm Bill and is administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Click Here for National EQIP Information Utah State NRCS supports the locally led conservation effort in the delivery of conservation programs. The USDA local work group (LWG) serves as the starting point for the development and coordination of USDA programs to provide an integrated approach for addressing local natural resource concerns. The LWG ensures that a conservation needs assessment is developed using community stakeholders input. Utilizing the assessment process, the LWG identifies resource concerns, recommends practices, priorities, payment rates, cost-share levels and funding needs. The group assists in multi-county coordination when resource concerns will be addressed across county boundaries. The LWG information is solicited by the District Conservationists each year. Following the submittals of LWG proposals, the Soil Conservation Districts hold a LWG meeting to review requests and make recommendations on ranking criteria, eligible practices and funding. These recommendations are given to the DC. The DC reviews these with the State Conservationist. The State Conservationist also conducts the State Technical Committee (STC) Meeting to gather input from all agriculture groups, federal, state and local agencies. Recommendations on what are Utah’s resource concerns and methods to treat them are submitted to the State Conservationist. The State Conservationist appoints STC subcommittees to provide specific solutions to specific resource concerns. Application ProcessApplication signup is an ongoing process and can be done online at USDA Online Services or completed at your local USDA Service Center with NRCS or the Farm Service Agency. The deadline for FY08 application signup is November 9, 2007. Once an applicant completes the Conservation Planning Workbook and submits to NRCS:
The following
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EligibilityThose interested in applying for an EQIP contract must meet both person determination eligibility and land eligibility requirements before applications can be ranked. For details concerning eligibility, refer to the Conservation Program Application Workbook. A participant will be eligible for cost-share or incentive payments for irrigation related structural and land management practices only on land that has been irrigated for two of the last five years prior to application for assistance. Documentation of Water Rights is must be provided. Limited Resource/Beginning FarmerLimited resource/beginning farmers or ranchers are entitled to an extra 15% cost share above the state-approved cost share listed in each resource below. To determine the eligibility, please refer to the following link: USDA Limited Resource/Beginning Farmer or Rancher Program Definitions Eligible Practices and Costs List for EQIP Contracts
The following
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The following resource concerns were identified as priorities for FY 2008:Links
Watershed ImprovementThe ranking criteria and screening process may be viewed at the link below:
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Animal Waste (AFO)The ranking criteria and screening process may be viewed at the link below:
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WildlifeThe ranking criteria and screening process may be viewed at the link below:
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Colorado River Salinity Control ProgramA major resource concern addressed by EQIP is salt loading into the Colorado River drainage. The Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Program receives funding that is earmarked nationally for salinity control on irrigated land. It is available to producers with irrigated land in a designated portion of Carbon, Emery, Grand, Uintah, and Duchesne. Money for this purpose is designated at the national level and is used to improve irrigation efficiency and provide wildlife habitat replacement to voluntarily replace habitat lost as a result of the improved irrigation projects. A local ranking criteria template for this priority concern has been developed. The cost share rate for this resource concern is 75%.
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Tribal State-wide Request for ProposalThese requests can be submitted by federally recognized tribes on a state-wide basis and evaluated. Please refer to the request for proposal link below for more information and instructions:
The following
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ArchivesFor questions or comments, Please contact the State Program Manager at 801-524-4565 Last Modified: 11/08/2007 |
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