Bibb County 2004 EQIP Program

Executive Summary

The USDA-EQIP sign-up for the 2004 program year is open and applications are being taken on a continuous basis. Your practices cannot begin until you have been approved; otherwise you will become ineligible. If you have conservation needs or resource problems on cropland or grazing land, contact the local NRCS office or the local FSA office at the following addresses or telephone numbers:

The cut off date when applications will be ranked is April 16, 2004.

Program Objective

The overall objective of the USDA-EQIP program is aimed at treating resource problems within Bibb County to improve conservation and sustain the resource base. This includes cropland, grazing land, and environmentally sensitive areas impacted from food and fiber production.

Selected Resource Concerns

The following resource concerns will be the only ones considered under the 2004 EQIP in Bibb County. These resource concerns are prioritized accordingly:

1. Grazing Lands (priority one)
2. Erosion on Cropland/ Soil Quality (priority one)
3. Water Quality/Animal Waste (priority two)

Application Ranking

All applications will be ranked using the state ranking worksheet. Points will be awarded according to the conservation practice(s) needed and priority of resource concern selected. Additional bonus points will be awarded according to the following: watershed where tract being treated is located, tract being treated is located in a watershed with a critically designated stream for identified, threatened and endangered aquatic specie ranges and beneficial practices will be implemented, tract being treated is located in the county with identified, threaten and endangered terrestrial specie ranges and beneficial practices will be implemented, tract being treated is located in a watershed with a 303d designated stream indicating an agricultural related source problem and beneficial practices will be implemented to address source problem. Individuals with the highest point totals generated from this worksheet will be ranked higher in consideration to receive cost-share assistance than those individuals with lower points.

Eligible Conservation Practices

The approved state conservation practice list will be used for selecting eligible cost-share practices and incentive payments. The approved state conservation practice list will also be utilized to determine the cost-share percentage for each practice. A maximum limit of 150 acres has been established for an individual to receive cost-share or incentive payment on the following practices: Pasture/Hayland Planting, Residue Management, and Pest Management. Other applicable practice restrictions are exhibited on the state conservation practice list.

Special Provisions

Beginning farmers and ranchers that meet qualifying criteria will receive a 20 percent increase in their total ranking score. Self certification is required.

Limited resource farmers that meet qualifying criteria will receive a 90 percent cost-share rate on eligible practices. No increase on incentive payments. Self certification is required.

Applications may also be taken on-line at: http://www.sc.egov.usda.gov. Additional information is available at: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/eqip/.  

 These documents require Adobe Acrobat.
Conservation Program Application - CCC1200 (330 KB)
State Ranking Tool (76 KB)
State Practices, Cost-Share Rates, and Restrictions (100 KB)

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