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Bibb County 2006 EQIP Program

Executive Summary

The USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Bibb County, Alabama, will hold a signup for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) for FY 2006. This signup will be held on a continuous basis. Any eligible landuser who has a resource concern or problem on pastureland, cropland, or hayland may apply for assistance through this program.

You may obtain additional information or submit an EQIP application from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the following location:

USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service
Marion Service Center for Perry and Bibb Counties
1309 Washington Street
Marion, Alabama 36756
Phone: 334-683-9017, Extension 3
Fax 334-683-9977

The first cut-off for applications to be considered under the first ranking and funding period is December 30, 2005. If you file an application later than the deadline for the first funding pool consideration, your application will be considered in the next pool of funding if additional funding is available.

Additional information is available at: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/eqip

Program Objective

The overall objective of the 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 local concerns to be addressed with the EQIP funds are prioritized as:

1. Forest Health and Wildlife
2. Soil Quality and Erosion
3. Grazing land Systems
4. Water Quality/Animal Waste
5. Water Conservation (Irrigation)

Application Ranking

All applications will be ranked and approvals made based on an environmental ranking worksheet that will insure that the most environmental benefit is received for the dollars expended. All applications will be ranked using the NRCS State approved ranking worksheet. Points will be awarded according to the conservation practices needed and priority of resource concern selected. Additional bonus points will be awarded according to the following:

  1. Watershed where tract begin treated is located
  2. Tract being treated is located in a watershed with a critically designated stream is identified
  3. Threatened and endangered aquatic species ranges and beneficial practices will be implemented
  4. Tract being treated is located in the county with identified threatened and endangered terrestrial species ranges and beneficial practices will be implemented
  5. Tracts being treated located in watershed with a 303d designated stream indicating an agricultural related source problem and beneficial practices will be implemented to address source of the problem.

Individuals with the highest point total generated form this worksheet will be ranked higher in consideration to receive cost-share assistance than those applications with lower points. In the event that a tie occurs on ranking and application the application that was submitted with and earlier date will be ranked higher.

Eligible Conservation Practices

The approved NRCS state practice list will be used for selecting eligible cost-share practices and incentive payments. The approved NRCS state practice list will also be used to determine that cost share percentage for each practice.

The following practice limitations have been set:

  • Perimeter fencing 5,280 feet maximum
  • Pasture and Hay Planting 150 acre maximum
  • Conservation tillage 150 acre maximum
  • Pest Management 150 acre maximum

Special Provisions

Beginning farmers and ranchers that meet qualifying criteria will receive a 20 percent increase in their total ranking score. Limited resource farm applications that have not been funded under the state concern will be considered under the county concern.  Those meeting qualifying criteria will receive a 90 percent cost-share rate on eligible practices. There will be no increase on Incentive payments. Self certification is required and will be spot checked by NRCS.

Additional information is available at: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/eqip/.  

 These documents require Adobe Acrobat.

Adobe Acrobat DocumentConservation Program Application - CCC1200 (330 KB)
Adobe Acrobat DocumentState Practices and Restrictions (121 KB)
Adobe Acrobat DocumentState Cost-Share Rates (115 KB)

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