EQIP Program in Concho County

The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) offers 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 assistance on conservation practices that will address the identified resource concern identified by the Local Work Group (LWG).

Concho County Office Information

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

Objective:

The objectives of the Concho County EQIP Local Work Group are to promote the use of conservation practices for improving the natural resources throughout the county. The major resource concern addressed in 2008 EQIP is Plant Condition.

County EQIP Resource Concern:

The major resource concern addressed in 2008 EQIP is Plant Condition. Water facilities, cross fencing, brush management, range seeding, pasture planting, seeding previously cleared rangeland, and converting cropland to grass will be given the highest priority for contract funding. The selected practices that will address this resource concern will also address soil erosion as well as wildlife habitat.

Priority for Funding:

• Water Facilities - High
• Mesquite, Prickly pear – High
  
• Seeding cropland to grass - High
• Seeding previously cleared rangeland to grass – High
• Pasture Planting – High
• Range Seeding - High
• Fencing - High
• Water Pumping Plant - Medium
• Terraces – Level contour and parallel - Medium
  
• Water Development - Medium
• Waterways - Medium
  

High Priority items will be ranked initially.
Only one targeted species will be allowed per ranking application.
Medium priority items will not be mixed with High priority items.

Eligible Practices and Payment Rates:

Eligible conservation practices are listed identified in the Field Office Technical Guide
and will be paid on the established payment rate for the practice and activity listed In the payment rate schedule.

Brush Management 314
Range Seeding 550
Pasture Planting 512
Fence 382
Pipelines 516
Watering Facility 614
Well 642
Terraces 600
Water Pumping Plant 533
Ponds 378
Water Facility 614
Diversion Terrace 362
Waterway 412
 
All practices installed will meet NRCS standards and specifications

Ranking Criteria :

Issue 1
Does application address one of the following:
Pipeline ________
Trough ________
Water Storage Facility _______
Yes _______ - 100 pts.
No ________ - 0 pts.

Issue 2
Does the area have adequate cross fencing but requires dependable water sources in
order to install a rotation grazing system?
Yes _______ - 95 pts.
No ________ - 0 pts.

Issue 3
Is the area continuously grazed but lacks dependable watering facilities to distribute grazing?
Yes _______ - 90 pts.
No ________ - 0 pts.

Issue 7
Does application address one of the following:
Control of mesquite or pear by IPT ( Individual Plant Treatment) __________
Control of prickly pear by aerial application __________
Control mesquite, juniper, and other brush using treedozing/grubbing __________
Yes _______ - 70 pts.
No ________ - 0 pts.

Issue 8
Does application address one of the following:
Pasture Planting __________
Range Seeding __________
Yes _______ - 65 pts.
No ________ - 0 pts.

Issue 9
Does application address one of the following:
Ponds __________
Wells__________
Diversion Terraces __________
Yes _______ - 60 pts.
No ________ - 0 pts.

Issue 10
Does application address one of the following:
Fences __________
Yes _______ - 55 pts.
No ________ - 0 pts.

Issue 11
Is the woody species or pear canopy greater than 31%?
Yes _______ - 50 pts.
No ________ - 0 pts.

Issue 12
Is the woody species or pear canopy greater than 11%?
Yes _______ - 45 pts.
No ________ - 0 pts.

Issue 13
Will a mix of native and/or nonative grasses w/ or w/o forbs be seeded?
Yes _______ - 40 pts.
No ________ - 0 pts

Issue 14
Will a monculture (Single Species) of introduced grass be seeded?
Yes _______ - 35 pts.
No ________ - 0 pts.

Issue 19
Does application control mesquite using approved herbicides aerially applied?
Yes _______ - 10 pts.
No ________ - 0 pts.

Issue 20
Is this application for? Is this a facilitating practice? YES or NO
Waterway ________
Terraces ________
Water Pumping Plant ________
Yes _______ - 5 pts.
No ________ - 0 pts.

Points will only be awarded to one high priority item.
Issues 2 and 3 can address Issue 1 only.
Diversion terraces are to be constructed on rangeland only as a means to increase water catchment for ponds.
Only one issue between issues 2 and 3 can be answered yes concerning water facilities.
Only one issue between issues 11 and 12 can be answered yes concerning brush/pear canopy.
Only one issue between issues 13 and 14 can be answered yes concerning grass seeding.
Issue 20 can be added to the contract as a facilitating practice(s) without adding to the score and limited to no more than 40 percent of the total contract cost.
High and Medium Priority issues scores will not be combined.

The spreadsheets below require Microsoft Excel.

EQIP Ranking Criteria - 2008-Concho (43 KB)
EQIP Screening - 2008-Concho (23 KB)