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Pickens County 2006 EQIP Program

Executive Summary

The USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Pickens County local work group are announcing the open signup for the 2006 Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).  The signup is continuous.

If you have a resource concern and/or problem on grazing land/grassland, cropland, hay land or wildlife land on your farm that you need assistance to solve, we may be able to provide both financial and technical assistance to you.

The EQIP program offers a variety of conservation practices to help the farmer and/or landowner with his or her resource concerns. These resource concerns may include the need to reduce erosion, to protect a stream or river, to establish or restore wildlife habitat or to improve the air.

Applicants will complete the CCC-1200 application form and appendix. Submit forms in person, by phone, fax, or letter to NRCS, the Pickens County SWCD, or the USDA-Farm Service Agency located at the Service Center Building, Room 308, Court House Square, Carrollton, Alabama,  during the hours of 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. The office telephone number is 205-367-8168, extension 3, and the fax number is 205-367-8565.

The county’s resource concerns are: grazing lands, water quality, soil quality/erosion, forest health and wildlife, at risk species/threatened and endangered, and water conservation. Below is the resource concern in priority order.

  1. Grazing Lands 
  2. Water Quality
  3. Soil Quality/Erosion
  4. Forest Health and Wildlife
  5. Water Conservation  

All applications will be ranked and approvals based on using the state web-based environmental assessment tool. This process is to insure that the most environmental benefit is received for the dollars being expended through the EQIP program.

The cut-off date for the first ranking of applications is January 6, 2006. If all monies are not obligated with the first ranking, then subsequent ranking will be held as needed.

Pickens County will use the NRCS state list of approved practices and the approved state cost-share percentages for the local signup.  A maximum limit of 150 acres has been established for an individual to receive cost-share or incentive payment on the following practices:

• Residue Management- no-till, ridge till, mulch till, strip till
• Pest Management
• Pasture and Hay land Planting
• Tree/Shrub Establishment

Other applicable practice restrictions are exhibited on the NRCS state conservation practice list.

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.

 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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