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2007 EQIP PROVIDES HIGHER INCENTIVES AND NEW PRACTICE COMPONENTS Sign-up Deadline October 28, 2006 The Enviromental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP), provides cost-share and incentives for practices to enhance or maintain natural resources. Producers may be cost-shared on numerous cropland and rangeland practices. In addition, to encourage adoption of new practices by producers, incentives are offered for selected practices. Contract commitments are for 1 to 10 years and 1 installed practice is required the first year of the contract. Cost-share is determined by average cost and flat-rate per acre set annually. Producers who have farmed or ranched 10 or more years may receive 50 or 75 percent of the average cost on installed practices. Limted resource producers or beginning farmers or ranchers (in the business 10 or less years) may qualify for 90 percent cost-share. Brush management practice cost share has been increased significantly. Also solar pumping plants are available on new wells beginning this year. In addition, incentive payments can be received for 1,2 or 3 years. The incentive payments, capped by dollar amount, years or average cost, are offered for the following practices: Atmospheric Resouce Quality Management (manure harvesting) Buffer practices with introduced or native species Conservation crop rotation Conversion of irrigated land Cover crop Filter strips Irrigation Water Management with higher technology Nutrient Mangement Pest Management Rangeland planting (of cropland to grass – class 4 land and up) Residue Management: No-Till/Strip/Direct Seed or Ridge or Mulch –Till Use Exclusion Pasture and hayland planting (conversion of cropland to grass – class 4 land and up) Prescribed grazing Upland Wildlife Habitat Management All installed practices using cost-share or incentive payments will meet NRCS Standards and Specifications. You may request standards and specifications for each practice and sign-up information by calling 580-544-2812 or emailing Cherrie.Brown@ok.usda.gov. Boise City News |