Hale County 2008 EQIP Program

Executive Summary

The USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Hale County, Alabama, will hold a signup for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) for the 2008 Fiscal Year. Applications are being taken on a continuous basis.

The first cut off for applications to be considered under the first ranking and funding period is October 26, 2007. 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, to be scheduled as needed, if additional funding is available.

You may obtain additional information or submit an EQIP application at the following location:

USDA- Natural Resources Conservation Service
Post Office Box 98
200 First Street
Greensboro, AL 36744
Phone: 334-624-3265, Extension 101
Fax: 334-624-8419
Hours: 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Contact:  District Conservationist Sutton Gibbs

Program Objective

The overall objective of the EQIP program is aimed at treating resource problems within Hale 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 follows:

1. Grazing Land Systems
2. Soil Quality and Erosion
3. Forest Health and Wildlife
4. Water Quality/Animal Waste

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 utilizing the NRCS state approved ranking worksheet. Points will be awarded according to the conservation practices needed and priority of resource concern selected.

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 an application the application that was submitted with an earlier date will be ranked higher.

Eligible Conservation Practices

The Alabama NRCS state approved EQIP Practice and Payment Schedule will be used for selecting eligible cost-share practices and incentive payments. The approved NRCS state practice list will also be utilized to determine the cost-share percentage for each practice.  Limited Resource Farmers will be paid at an increased payment rate.

The following practice limitations have been set:

• Perimeter fencing is for land converted from cropland only – use of fencing to establish boundaries will not be eligible for program payments. Perimeter fencing 5,280 feet maximum per entity. Perimeter fencing to be planned in conjunction with cross fencing and not intended to be a stand alone practice. Cross fencing 5,280 feet maximum per entity
• Pasture and Hay Planting 100 acre maximum per entity
• Conservation Tillage 100 acre maximum per entity
• Pest Management 100 acre maximum per entity
• Forest Management Practices 100 acres maximum per entity
• Tree Planting 100 acres maximum per entity
• Invasive species pest management cost shared under County Concern Funds will be limited to maximum of 100 acres
• Manure Transfer cost-shared under County Concern Funds will be limited to 250 Tons of Litter.

If a landowner has received an Incentive payment in a previous EQIP contract, they will not be allowed to receive additional Incentive Payments for the same practice and/or practice level during the life of the present Farm Bill.

County Ranking Tool for FY2008 County Allocations

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

 These documents may require Adobe Acrobat or Microsoft Excel.

Alabama EQIP Practice and Payment Schedule 2008

Appendix to Form NRCS-CPA-1202: Conservation Program Contract (National NRCS-will open in new window)

Conservation Program Application - NRCS-CPA-1200 (39 KB)

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