|
|
California 2009 Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)2009 EQIP Program InformationEnvironmental Quality Incentives Program Application Information for Fiscal Year 2009 - Application deadline: Close of Business, Friday, December 5, 2008. General Program DescriptionThe Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) was established in the 1996 Farm Bill to provide a single, voluntary conservation program for farmers and ranchers to address significant natural resource concerns. Nationally, it provides technical and financial assistance to address natural resource concerns. Administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), EQIP was reauthorized in the 2008 Farm Bill and awards cost share assistance to projects which provide significant environmental benefit. Eligible farmers and ranchers may apply for EQIP program benefits at any time. Application ranking periods are established to allow evaluation of projects and awarding of contracts based upon an environmental score for each application that achieves the natural resource benefits identified by local, state and national priorities. Practices eligible for cost share and the environmental score is calculated based upon ranking criteria developed with input from Local Work Groups (LWG), Stakeholders and the State Technical Advisory Committee (STAC). To be considered for fiscal year 2009 EQIP program benefits, producers must submit an application and required eligibility documentation to their local NRCS office no later than close of business on December 5, 2008. EQIP Program and Applicant EligibilityEligible producers engaged in livestock or crop production on eligible land may apply for EQIP program benefits. Eligible land includes cropland; rangeland; grassland; pastureland; private non-industrial forestland; and other farm or ranchlands as determined by the Secretary of Agriculture. Submittal of all applications, determination of eligibility and project evaluation is completed at the local NRCS field office level. Producers are advised to carefully review all program applicant and required eligibility information. Additional information can be found at Program Participant Eligibility. Producers are strongly encouraged to contact their local NRCS and FSA offices to make sure all records are current and correct before submitting a program application. Producers who submit incomplete applications or whose farm records and certifications are not up to date will be deferred for current year program application. Fact Sheets & General Information About EQIP
Form Needed for Sign UpThese documents require
Acrobat Reader. ContactsAlan Forkey, Program Manager Roney Gutierrez, Program
Specialist |
|
|