EQIP Program in Montague County

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).

Montague County Office Information

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

Objective:

The objective of the Montague County EQIP local workgroup is to promote the use of conservation practices for improving the natural resources throughout the county. Major emphasis is being placed on improving the plant community resources within the county. Establishing permanent grass, brush management, cross-fencing and livestock watering facilities will be utilized to address this objective.

County EQIP Resource Concerns:

Several years of below normal rainfall have resulted in deteriorated grasslands, resulting in a stronger need for brush management and grass planting. The Montague County local workgroup reviewed resource concerns voiced by the program development group and determined Plant Health to be the top priority concern.

Eligible Practices and Cost Share Rates:

Limited Resource Producers - 90 percent
Beginning Farmers or Ranchers - 50 percent
All Other Producers - 50 percent

Cost-share will be based on the average cost for the practice unless indicated otherwise. The following practices are the only ones eligible for cost-share assistance in the 2006 EQIP program for Montague County.

Fence - Replace cross fence due to wildfires.  $1.70 ft. for 4 strand barbed or woven wire.

Prescribed Grazing- Full growing season deferment due to wildfire. $5.00 per ac. on rangeland ; $10.00 per acre on pastureland for a minimum 90 day deferment.

Pasture Planting (512)
Sprigging bermudagrass - $95.00 per acre.

Pasture Planting (512)
Introduced Seeded Grasses - $70.00 per acre.

Range Seeding (550)
Seeded Grass Mix - $95.00 per acre.
The above grass plantings include - Seedbed preparation, seed or sprigs, and seeding or sprigging operation.

Nutrient Management (590)
Fertilizer/ lime as required by current soils test.
NPK application- $40.00/ac.
Lime - $30.00 per acre
Nutrient management will only be eligible if a current soil test is provided prior to contract approval.

Pest Management (595)
Mechanical or Chemical Application - $12.00 per acre.

Brush Mangement (314)
Individual plant treatment or aerial spraying of mesquite - $30.00 per acre.

Brush Management (314)
Oak and associated species apply Tebuthiuron at 2# per acre - $80.00 per acre.

Brush Management (314)
Mechanical grubbing or tree dozing -
10-35 percent canopy - $80 per acre
>35 percent canopy- $150.00 per acre
Root Rake - $50.00 per acre
Stacking and piling - $45.00/acre

Mechanical brush control resulting in greater than 25 percent soil disturbance will require reseeding. Stacking and piling or root raking will only be cost-shared in conjunction with applications for mechanical brush control. All brush management will require 10 percent or greater canopy for cost-share consideration.

Fence (382)
Minimum 4 strand barbed wire or woven wire interior fences if required for grazing management - $1.70 per foot.
Livestock watering facilities will be eligible in the 2006 EQIP where a reliable source of water is needed in a permanent grass pasture. Eligible practices will be pipelines, water wells and ponds. Excavated (pit) ponds and embankment type will be limited to 3000 cubic yards per pond with no greater than 12” Schedule 40 PVC pipe. Water wells will need to produce a minimum of 3 gallons per minute which will be considered adequate for livestock water.

Pipelines (516)- 1¼” PVC or smaller- $1.00 ft.

Waterwells (642)- $ 14.00 ft. to include drilling, casing, gravel packing and concrete.

Ponds (378)- $1.25 cy.
Barrel, Sch 40 PVC - $ 1.30 di. ft.

Ranking Criteria:

These evaluation criteria will be used for all 2006 EQIP applications. Applications will be screened to identify those containing eligible cost-share practices that are considered high priority practices. Those applications containing practices that are not eligible for cost-share will be grouped into low priority. Only those applications with eligible high priority cost-share practices will be ranked in 2006. Multiple applications per tract and farm are allowed. Aerial applications will be limited to 400 acres per application. Mechanical treatment will be limited to 200 acres per application.
Brush management, grass planting, fencing, and livestock watering facilities may be combined under one application. Points will be awarded for EQIP cost-shared practices only. Applications will be ranked according to offer index from highest to lowest and funded until funds are exhausted. Points will be divided by number of practices applied for.

Range or Pasture Planting
All grass planting - 100 points

Fence
Wildfire related - 100 points

Prescribed Grazing
Wildfire related - 100 points

Brush Management
Aerial app/Individual Plant/Mechanical Treatment - 50 points

Fence - 30 points

Pipelines/Water wells- 20 points

Ponds- 10 points

Grassland re-vegetation will be considered for ranking if less than 15 percent desirable grasses are present and a suitable seedbed can be prepared at time of planting using conventional farm equipment.

Nutrient Management and Pest Management will not be considered in the ranking process, but will be cost-shared if required for grass establishment.

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