United States Department of Agriculture
Natural Resources Conservation Service		 Texas Go to Accessibility Information
Skip to Page Content




EQIP Program in Comal County

Updated 12/12/2005

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).

Comal County Office Information

Interested agricultural producers may apply in person at the Comal 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 Comal 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
Edwards Aquifer Range Water Quantity/Brush Management
Edwards Aquifer Irrigation Water Quantity/Irrigation
Limited Resource Farmer or Rancher All

Objective:

The objective of the Comal County Environmental Quality Incentives Program Local Work Group is to promote the use of conservation practices for improving the natural resources throughout the county with major emphasis on increasing water quantity.

County EQIP Resource Concern:

In Comal County for 2006, the Local Work Group has identified Brush Management for water quantity as its first priority concern and Soil Erosion as the secondary major resource concern.

Priority for Funding:

Will be based on water quantity – Natural moisture from rainfall is not being efficiently managed resulting in restricting a suitable use of the land.
75 percent of funds will be spent on Brush Management Practices
25 percent of funds will be spent on Soil Erosion Management Practices

Eligible Practices and Cost Share Rates:

Practices Approved for Cost-Share
Comal County 2006

All Practices are set at 50 percent Cost Share**
    Established Rate - 100 percent
Brush Management (314) Tree Dozing
Root Plowing
Raking
Stacking & Piling
Hydraulic Shears
Hydro-Axe 		$180/ac.
$105/ac.
$ 55/ac.
$105/ac.
$200/ac.
$300/ac.
Planting Introduced &
Native Species (512)
 		 Coastal Bermuda-12 bu/ac $ 90/ac.
Nutrient Management (590) N, P & K $ 40/ac.
Pest Management (595) Weed Control $ 10/ac.
Range Seeding (550) Native Plants (3 or more species) $ 45/ac
Fencing (382) 4-Strand Barb-standard
4-Strand Barb-Steep & Rocky
Net-Standard
Net-Steep & Rocky		 $ 1.50/ft.
$ 3.00/ft
$ 2.05/ft.
$ 3.80/ft
Terraces (600) Earthmoving, Common $ 0.50/ft
Waterway(412) Shaping
Light Seedbed Prep. &
Bermuda Sprigs & Sprigging (24 bu/ac)
Solid Sodding (260 cu/yds/ac)		 $525/ac.
$150/ac.
$325/ac
Pipeline ( 516 ) ¾” PVC $ 1.50/ft.
Well (642 ) Drilling & Casing $12.50/ft.

Self Certification

An applicant is eligible if all of the following are met:

  • The applicant is an individual, entity, or joint operation.
  • The applicant is engaged in livestock or agricultural production as defined in this section.
  • The land being offered for enrollment in EQIP is used in agricultural or livestock production as defined in this section.


    • Notes: To be eligible for EQIP, an applicant who certified as a beginning farmer or rancher must also be determined as an agricultural producer.

    Foreign individuals and entities may be determined eligible producers provided they meet the provisions of this section.

    Agricultural support businesses such as agricultural supply buyers and sellers are not eligible to participate in EQIP. Likewise, producer organizations and cooperatives that provide support but do not meet the above criteria are not eligible.

    In order to be considered an agricultural producer, there must be a minimum of $1000 or more of agricultural products produced and sold, or that normally world have been sold for two of the last five years or IRS Schedule F form showing profit or loss from farm operations.

    Agricultural production is defined as farm or ranch operations involving the production of crops including but not limited to:

  • Grains or row crops
  • Tobacco
  • Seed crops
  • Vegetables or fruits
  • Hay, forage, or pasture
  • Orchards or vineyards
  • Flowers or bulbs
  • Naval stores
  • Field-grown ornamentals
  • Plant materials
  • Plant materials in green houses
  • Trees, including private non-industrial forest land


    • Note: Producers with forest land must have one of the following:

  • A forest management plan or forest stewardship plan
  • A prior record of timber harvest or revenue from timber sales
  • Proof of capital investment on forest practices such as:
  • Tree plantings
  • Forest Stand Improvement
  • Site Preparation
  • Prescribed burning
  • Other Agro forestry practices
  • Other agricultural commodities
  • Other crops used for subsistence


    • Livestock production is defined as farm or ranch operations involving the production, growing, raising, or reproducing of livestock or livestock products:

  • For food or fiber, including but not limited to the following:
  • Dairy cattle
  • Beef cattle
  • Buffalo
  • Poultry
  • Turkeys
  • Swine
  • Sheep or goats
  • Horses
  • Fish or other animals raised by aquaculture
  • Ostriches or emu
  • Other livestock or fowl

    •  
    Certification:

    I have read the above requirements and certify that I meet the requirements to be
    considered an eligible applicant. I further understand that if asked, I agree to
    produce the necessary documentation to support this certification.

    I understand that a false certification will result in termination of my EQIP
    application/contract and that I may be liable for rec9overy of administrative fees and a refund of any cost shares received. False certification is subject to criminal and civil fraud statutes.


    __________________________________ _______________________
    Name Date
     

    Ranking Criteria:

    Applicant Name___________________________ Application Number ___________
    Screening Tool
    Comal County 2006
    Resource Concern-Water Quantity-Natural moisture from rainfall is not being efficiently managed resulting in restricting a suitable use of the land.

    Screening Tool (To be completed by the applicant)

    1. Do you have land that is being invaded by cedar or mesquite?
    __________Yes, go to question #2
    __________No, Low Priority

    2. Are you willing to defer the treated pasture one complete growing season following brush removal?
    __________Yes, High Priority
    __________No, Medium Priority

    3. Do you wish to apply for:
    A) Brush Management __________Yes, High Priority
    B) Other Cost-List Practices __________Yes, Medium Priority
    C) Other __________Yes, Low Priority


    Erosion
    (25% of EQIP funds will be allocated for Erosion)

    1. Do you have cropland that you have produced an annual crop on 4 out of the last 6 years?
    __________Yes, go to question #2
    __________No, Low Priority

    2. Do you have terraces and/or waterways that are no longer functioning as installed?
    __________Yes, High Priority
    __________No, Low Priority



    Landowner Signature __________________________ Date _______________

    Conservationist _______________________________ Date _______________

    < Back to EQIP