SUBMITTED NEWS RELEASE:
Nevada agricultural landowners and operators are encouraged to submit 2010 applications by Nov. 27 to USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service for participation in the Environmental Quality Incentives Program. EQIP is offered through a continuous signup but NRCS periodically makes funding selections as program dollars allow.
EQIP was originally established under the 1996 Farm Bill and is reauthorized in the 2008 Farm Bill. It provides technical and financial assistance to landowners to voluntarily address soil, water and related natural resource concerns on agricultural lands. Congress included new provisions in the 2008 Farm Bill setting aside 5 percent of EQIP financial assistance dollars to assist beginning farmers and another 5 percent to assist socially disadvantaged farmers.
Nevada’s payment rates for all conservation practices in this year’s signup have increased from 50 to 75 percent of the average cost of the practice. Historically underserved producers, such as a member of a Socially Disadvantaged Group (American Indians, Blacks, Asians, Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders, and Hispanics), Beginning or Limited Resource Farmers, and Indian tribes may be eligible for up to 90 percent of the average cost of practices.
For more information about EQIP, visit your local USDA Service Center or go online to http://www.nv.nrcs.usda.gov.
NRCS provides leadership in a partnership effort to help people conserve, maintain and improve our natural resources and environment.
