South Carolina 2009 State EQIP Sign-Up and Application Information
Conservation Programs Protect Soil, Water, and Wildlife
Landowners Encouraged to Apply by September 30th
for Prioritized Funding
Columbia, SC, August 6, 2008— State
Conservationist Niles Glasgow announced that September 30, 2008, is the deadline
to apply for assistance from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
for two of its Farm Bill programs. NRCS provides financial and
technical assistance to help South Carolina landowners address natural resource
concerns, promote environmental quality, and protect wildlife habitat on
property they own or control. The cost-share funds are available through the
Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and the Wildlife Habitat
Incentives Program (WHIP), both administered by NRCS.
EQIP helps farmers improve production while protecting environmental quality
by addressing such concerns as soil erosion and productivity, grazing
management, water quality, animal waste, and forestry concerns. EQIP also
assists eligible small-scale farmers who have historically not participated in
or ranked high enough to be funded in previous program sign ups. WHIP assists
landowners who want to improve wildlife habitat or restore natural ecosystems on
their land.
There is a continuous signup for these programs; however, to increase your
chances of funding, apply by September 30. Producers interested in applying
should visit their local USDA Service Center as soon as possible to prepare
their applications.
Visit
www.sc.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/ for more information, including eligibility
information.
General Program Description
Field offices are currently processing EQIP applications.
It is a continuous signup. September 30, 2008, is the deadline for applications
to be accepted and renked for the 2009 funding cycle. Funding selections for EQIP
applications will be announced in the first quarter of 2009.
All sign-ups are conducted at USDA Service Centers in South Carolina.
The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) is a voluntary conservation program
from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. It supports production agriculture and
environmental quality as compatible goals. Through
EQIP, farmers may receive
financial and technical help with structural and management conservation practices on
agricultural land.
EQIP was reauthorized
in the 2002 Farm Bill and is administered by the
Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).
In South Carolina, EQIP
will pay
50 percent
of the costs of eligible conservation practices under the general sign-up. Small
scale farmers are eligible for 75 percent cost share. Limited Resource
and Beginning Farmers are eligible for 90 percent cost share. Incentive payments may be made to encourage a farmer
to adopt land management practices, such as nutrient management, manure management, integrated
pest management, biodiesel, precision farming, and wildlife habitat management. Incentive payments are
capped at $40,000 per operation. There can be incentive only contracts.
2009 EQIP General Program
Description Documents
How
EQIP
Works in
South Carolina
Links to Other Useful Documents for the 2008 EQIP Program
EQIP Archives
FY 2008
FY 2007
FY 2006
FY 2005
FY 2004
FY 2003
Contact
Bethel DuRant
Soil Conservationist
Phone: 803-253-3512
Email: bethel.durant@sc.usda.gov
Craig Ellis
Assistant State Conservationist (P)
Phone: (803) 253-3930
Email: craig.ellis@sc.usda.gov
Last Modified:
08/22/2008 | 
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