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News Release
USDA / NRCS Tennessee
675 U.S. Courthouse
801 Broadway
Nashville, TN 37203

Contact: Perry Stevens, State Public Affairs Specialist
(615) 277-2533

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Conservation Agency Increases Cost Share Payment Rate For Tennessee Landowners

Nashville, TN — Tennessee landowners who qualify for cost share assistance in the Farm Bill’s Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) are seeing a 25-percent cost share increase in fiscal year 2009. The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), an agency of the USDA that works with private landowners to conserve natural resources and increase productivity, administers the program. The new pay rate is based on 75-percent of the typical cost of applying conservation practices and is well above the previous rate of 50-percent.

“Now is the best time for Tennessee farmers and landowners to take advantage of USDA conservation programs,” said State Conservationist Kevin Brown. “We are increasing our rate of cost share by a significant margin, and if you are a beginning farmer or member of a socially disadvantaged population, you may be eligible for even higher cost share.”

Under NRCS conservation programs, eligible applicants may receive help to convert their croplands to grasslands; reduce erosion; apply water saving measures to improve an existing irrigation system; contain waste from animal feeding operations; improve forest and aquatic habitat; and meet resource needs of organic and/or specialty crop growers. Producers wanting to implement conservation practices should contact their local District Conservationist now so they are ready when the funding becomes available.

NRCS also offers easement programs that allow landowners to restore wetlands that have been impacted by agricultural activities; protect, enhance, and restore grasslands on their property; and protect highly erodible and environmentally sensitive land by establishing conservation buffers with the planting of trees, grass, and other long-term cover.

NRCS District Conservationists are always available to provide good, sound technical planning to producers and landowners. To find out if you are eligible to take advantage of NRCS conservation or easement programs, contact your local NRCS office at the nearest USDA Service Center, or visit our website at http://www.tn.nrcs.usda.gov. is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

 

"The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer."

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