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Seasonal High Tunnel Initiative
USDA SEEKING
APPLICATIONS IN NORTH CAROLINA FOR SEASONAL HIGH TUNNEL INITIATIVE
Longer growing seasons, conserving natural resources and providing a greater
supply of locally grown food are all advantages for the farmers who participle
in the United States Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation
Service (NRCS) Seasonal High Tunnel Initiative. The initiative is offered under
the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), and funding availability is
to be available soon for eligible applicants.
Farmers can submit applications for the initiative at anytime throughout the
year. However, NRCS will begin the application ranking process for the EQIP
Seasonal High Tunnel Initiative on February 3, 2012 for possible funding.
Applications are ranked based on greatest environmental benefit. For an
application to be considered for ranking all land and producer eligibility
requirements must have been met.
The initiative will provide opportunities for farmers to establish seasonal high
tunnel systems for crops and for numerous conservation practices that benefit
natural resources. Applicants who apply for the national EQIP initiative can
also apply for conservation practices under the state administered Farm Bill
conservation programs.
The 2008 Farm Bill provides additional incentives for farmers, who are
beginning, have limited resources, or who are socially disadvantaged. Such
farmers can receive up to 90 percent of the costs associated with planning and
implementing certain conservation practices and up to 30 percent of expected
costs may be provided in advance.
Farmers should visit their local USDA Service Center today to apply for
available funding for Farm Bill programs and initiatives; locations are listed
here (NC
Field Offices). General program information is available on the NRCS North
Carolina website at (NRCS
Programs).
Link
National USDA NRCS EQIP Program
North Carolina
EQIP Program Page
Program Contact
Greg Walker, Assistant State
Conservationist for Programs, 919-873-2104
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