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NRCS Funds Available to Assist with Installation of Efficient Irrigation Systems

Auburn, Ala. – July 16, 2007

irrigationUSDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has received additional Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) funds to aid producers with water issues resulting from the drought. The Ground and Surface Water Conservation (GSWC) Project is a special project funded through the EQIP program. This project is designed to promote ground and surface water conservation by providing incentive payments to producers to carry out eligible conservation activities in order to improve irrigation systems and/or enhance irrigation efficiencies.

The local NRCS office is accepting applications. Applicant qualifications will be determining using the following guidelines:

  1. Assistance through the project must result in a net savings in ground or surface water resources in the agricultural operation of the producer.
  2. Only land that has been irrigated for two of the last five years prior to submitting an application is eligible.
  3. The existing irrigation system must be a functional system and meet the following requirements:
    • center pivot system - sprinklers or nozzles should not have been replaced in the last seven years;
    • traveling gun system - system is at least five years old;
    • solid set sprinkler system – sprinklers or nozzles should not have been replaced in the last seven years.
  4. The water conservation system will use new components with design and installation certified by a professional engineer registered in Alabama. The newly installed system will have at least a five-year service life.
  5. Payment will be a one-year incentive payment based on the type of conversion. The conversion must occur prior to the incentive payment.

The first batching date will be July 28, 2007, and a second one will be August 10, 2007. For details about the program, contact your local Natural Resources Conservation Service office.


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