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Pickens County 2004 EQIP Program


Executive Summary

The Pickens County local work group is announcing the open signup for the FY2004 Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). If you have a resource concern and/or problem on grazingland or cropland 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.

Our county’s resource concerns have been prioritized in the following order:

  1. Grazing Lands
  2. Water Quality
  3. Soil Quality/Erosion

All applications will be ranked and approved 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. Individuals with the highest point totals generated from the ranking assessment tool will be ranked higher in consideration to receive cost-share assistance than those individuals with lower points.

The cut off date for the first ranking of applications is April, 16, 2004. If all monies are not obligated with the first ranking, then a second ranking will be held 30 days after the first ranking.

Pickens County will utilize the 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 Hayland Planting
Tree/Shrub Establishment

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

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

Applications will be taken on a continuous basis. Applicants will complete the CCC-1200 application form and appendix. Submit forms in person, by phone, fax or letter to the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Pickens County Soil and Water Conservation District, or the USDA-Farm Service Agency located at the Service Center Building, Room 308, Courthouse Square, Carrollton, Alabama, during the hours of 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday-Friday. The office telephone number is 205-367-8168 and the fax number is 205-367-8565.

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.
Adobe Acrobat DocumentConservation Program Application - CCC1200 (330 KB)
Adobe Acrobat DocumentState Ranking Tool (75 KB)
Adobe Acrobat DocumentState Practices, Cost-Share Rates, and Restrictions (100 KB)

 

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