Wyoming EQIP
Environmental Quality Incentives Program
Applications are taken on a continual basis. The next evaluation period:
to be announced.
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General
Program Description
The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) provides technical
assistance, cost share and incentive payments to agricultural producers to
implement conservation practices on eligible agricultural land. It is a
voluntary program that promotes environmental quality in agricultural
production. EQIP was reauthorized in the
2002 Farm Bill
and is administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).
Producers can apply for cost sharing for many types of conservation practices.
All sign-ups are conducted at
USDA Service Centers in Wyoming.
How EQIP is being implemented in Wyoming:
The overall philosophy for EQIP in Wyoming is to meet national priorities, be
locally driven, streamlined, and provide flexibility for producers to achieve
their diverse conservation objectives.
NOTE: The 2002 Farm Bill is scheduled to expire at the end
of fiscal year 2007. As such, a new farm bill may be implemented in 2008 which
could change the specific program information within these web pages. Therefore,
all information is based on past policies (2007 and before) and is subject to
change after October 1, 2007.
Wyoming State Conservation Plan/Priorities:
The following priorities are based on recommendations from the Wyoming State
Technical Committee. The State Technical Committee is made up of representatives
from various producer groups, conservation organizations, agribusinesses, and
federal, state, and tribal government agencies.
- Grazing Lands Management
- Water Quality
- Irrigation Water Management
- Wetlands
- Prevention of the conversion of agricultural lands to non-agricultural
use
- Excessive erosion
- Streambank/riparian area protection
- Fish and wildlife habitat
Wyoming's Top Priority Concerns
The following resource concerns have been identified as a
priority across the state of Wyoming. These state level priorities support the
national EQIP priorities. Funds are set aside for these priorities and
applications are accepted statewide.
1. Water Quality through Livestock Waste Management
One million dollars of Wyoming's EQIP funds will be focused to
help producers who want to make changes in their livestock waste management
systems. Due to the difficulty producers face in complying with environmental
regulations, Wyoming's goal is to assist 100% of applicants seeking this
assistance. These funds will assist producers with AFO/CAFO regulations and
supports the national priority of reducing non-point source pollution.
Livestock Waste Management Ranking Worksheet (PDF, 18 KB)
2. Drought Mitigation and Wildfire Recovery
A prescribed grazing plan incentive payment is available to encourage
producers to develop and implement sound, long term grazing systems that will
sustain the drought cycle. This Grazing Land Initiative was developed through
consultation with the State Technical Committee, conservation partners, and NRCS
field offices. Under this initiative, EQIP funds are used to develop and
implement prescribed grazing systems that will help producers enhance management
of range and pasture lands and mitigate the impacts of drought.
Additionally, this initiative may include a deferment
and recovery incentive for lands affected by the most recent wildfire season.
This wildfire recovery prescribed grazing payment will assist the
producer with the resources needed to defer the burned area, secure rented
acres, install structures, etc. as needed or specific to the operating unit, so
that the prescribed grazing plan can be implemented.
These contracts are eligible for a 3-year
prescribed grazing incentive and payment is calculated based on the number of
acres included in the contract. Wyoming will set aside one million dollars
to fund applications for this initiative.
Grazing Land Initiative Fact Sheet (PDF, 37 KB)
Grazing Land Initiative Ranking Worksheet (PDF, 136 KB)
Additionally, many local work groups have identified drought
concerns as a priority and have tailored ranking criteria to address this need.
In recent years, over 90% of EQIP funds have been allocated to Wyoming producers
through local ranking processes who have self selected to address drought.
3. Forest Health
This initiative will provide a funding source to address the need for
conservation on private forestlands in Wyoming. The intent of this initiative
is to fund silviculture practices such as forest stand improvement.
Agroforestry projects including tree establishment and windbreaks are not
included in this initiative.
Forest Health Initiative Ranking Worksheet (PDF, 12 KB)
4. Wildlife Habitat
The need for wildlife habitat conservation is a priority across the state of
Wyoming. This initiative will address conservation of wetland, riparian, and
upland habitat projects. This statewide priority supports the national EQIP
objective of conservation of at-risk species habitat.
Wildlife Initiative Ranking Worksheet (PDF, 10 KB)
Locally Led:
The local work group process, convened by the conservation district, is used to determine local resource concerns and priorities. The local work group is made up of local agency representatives, Conservation District, and FSA County Committee. Individuals may also
provide advice and input to the local work group through the Conservation District.
Wyoming EQIP applications are evaluated and selected for funding based on a locally
developed procedure to optimize environmental benefits.
Ranking Criteria:
The following guidance was provided to local work groups in setting priorities and ranking criteria:
-
Stay within national and state priorities
-
Optimize environmental benefits
-
Give higher priority to applications that use cost effective conservation practices, treat multiple resource
concerns, and encourage a higher level of conservation.
Each county office in Wyoming establishes its own criteria,
within state guidelines, to evaluate and select applications for funding. These criteria are based on the local
priorities and objectives for natural resource conservation. The national and state objectives will be amplified by addressing local priorities. Each local
ranking process is approved by the Wyoming NRCS State Conservationist.
Allocation of funds:
The majority of funds will be allocated to the county level to
support locally led conservation within state and national priorities. A reserve
of funds will be used to address the statewide priority concerns.
1. Livestock Waste - Water Quality through Livestock Waste Management
$800,000 of Wyoming's allocation to address Livestock Waste Management
applications.
2. Grazingland Initiative - Drought Mitigation and Wildfire
Recovery
$500,000 of the state allocation to address prescribed grazing management.
3. Forestland Initiative - Forestland Health
$160,000 will be reserved to fund applications for projects that improve
forestland health.
4.
Wildlife Initiative -
Wildlife Habitat Conservation
$500,000
will be reserved to fund applications for projects that specifically address
wildlife habitat needs.
The remaining funds will be allocated to Wyoming's 23 counties
based on the following formula which includes factors that support national and
state priorities.
Allocation and Associated Criteria
Basis for allocation |
Criteria |
Demographic Factors
(15%) |
- Number of farms/ranches
- Number of Limited Resource Producers
|
Resource Factors
(40%) |
- Private, Tribal, and other non-federal acres needing treatment
- Irrigated acres
- Federal acres
- Riparian/wetland acres
- At-risk species habitat
|
Management Factors
(20%) |
- Emerging and diverse resource issues
- Unfunded EQIP applications
- Measured performance
- Local leveraging of partner funds
|
Watershed Incentive
(10%) |
- Available to local work groups for implementation of a current watershed plan
|
Special Emphasis
Funds (15%) |
|
Ground & Surface Water EQIP (separate funds) |
- Southeast counties overlaying the High Plains aquifer, and selected
counties to
improve irrigation water management and efficiencies.
|
Payment Rates:
Rates will be set at levels that encourage producers to adopt the conservation practice, while optimizing the use of federal funds. In Wyoming,
payment
rates are established by evaluating the environmental benefits (Conservation Practice Physical Effects) to the public versus the economic payback to the
producer to install a conservation practice or system.
In addition to the environmental benefits, practices or systems that address the following considerations may be
established at a higher rate:
-
Assist producers in compliance with regulatory requirements
-
Address more than one resource concerns
-
Are included in multi-state or multi-county collaborative efforts
-
Degree of benefit for at-risk species habitat
Practices or systems with high environmental benefits to the public, but low economic payback for the producer
are established at a higher rate as
an incentive for the producer to install the practice. Practices or systems with high environmental benefits, low economic payback, and also include
additional considerations such as compliance with environmental regulations (such as livestock waste management practices) would be
paid at the
highest rate. Conversely, practices or systems with high economic payback to the producer would need less incentive for the producer to choose to
implement.
Limited Resource Producers and Beginning Farmers & Ranchers
may receive a rate that is 20% higher than the established rate to assist them
in applying conservation practices. Find out if you qualify as a
Small, Limited Resource,
or Beginning Farmer/Rancher.
Wyoming
Limited Resource and Beginning Farmer/Rancher Help Sheet
(PDF, 41 KB)
Wyoming
Payment Rates by Conservation Practice List
(XLS, 59 KB)
Eligible Conservation Practices
Locally led conservation will be used to identify practices that
will be eligible for cost share depending on the priority resource concerns. The
Wyoming electronic Field Office Tech Guide
(eFOTG)
contains a list of potential practices eligible for cost share.
Producer
Eligibility
Any producer engaged in livestock or crop production on eligible land may apply for EQIP. Eligible land includes cropland, rangeland, pasture land,
private non-industrial forestland, and other farm or ranch lands as determined by the Secretary of Agriculture.
EQIP applicants must have an Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) or less than $2.5
million over the last two years and must have potential agriculture income of
>$1000. Additional eligibility requirements include completing the AD-1026
Conservation Certification, CCC-526 AGI Certification, and CCC-501A Entity
Membership (if applying as an entity). Total cost share and incentive payments
may be up to $450,000 per individual or entity over the life of the 2002 Farm
Bill, regardless of the number of farms or contracts.
Accomplishments
Since 1997, over $70 million of EQIP financial assistance has been distributed across Wyoming to address natural resource concerns. These dollars will
allow private landowners to implement prescribed grazing and other land treatments on rangeland; install improved irrigation and water management
systems on cropland and hayland; address water quality concerns, including livestock waste management; and improve riparian area health and wildlife
habitat. Since the 2002 Farm Bill was established and implemented in Wyoming, nearly all of the EQIP funds
have been used for conservation practices that enable producers to better deal with
drought.
For More Information
or to apply for the EQIP program
Please contact the NRCS at your local USDA Service Center.
Application signup is an ongoing process and can be completed through your local USDA Service Center with NRCS.
The application form is also available
online.
To View Local Ranking Sheets and other local information, click on a County:
State Contacts:
Jay Mar, Assistant State Conservationist for Programs, 307-233-6757
Cheryl
Grapes, Resource Conservationist, Farm Bill Program Specialist, 307-233-6762
National EQIP Home Page
Last Modified:
08/13/2008
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