Despite a pledge to increase conservation funding from its 2008 amount of $1.2 billion to $1.75 billion for the Natural Resources Conservation Service’s (NRCS) Environmental Quality Improvement Program (EQIP), the amount will still not meet the demand.As Tim Beard, of the financial Assistance Division within the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s NRCS, stated simply in Ron Smith’s story for the Southwest Farm Press, ‘“That’s still not enough[.]”’ Explaining further, Beard told the gathering at the Southern Peanut Growers Conference in Panama City, FL that many states have EQIP waiting lists. The 2008 Farm Bill schedules the following funding increases for EQIP: 2008-$1.2 billion; 2009-$1.3 billion; 2010-$1.45 billion; 2011-$1.51 billion; and 2012-$1.75 billion.
Beard also told those at the conference that end users now have more say in how the funds will be used, and changes to EQIP “give producers ‘more flexibility to install and maintain conservation practices that sustain food and fiber production.”’ However, the payment limit has been dropped from $450,000 to $300,000. This limit can be waived if a special “environmentally significant waiver” is obtained. Additionally, payments for technical assistance are not included in the $300,000 limit. Beard said priority will be given to existing conservation practices, and applicants will be grouped, whenever possible, in the same pool as similar operations (i.e. livestock operations will be grouped with other livestock operations).
Beard went further in his talk and told the audience there may be special considerations for organic producers. Additionally, water conservation and irrigation funds cannot be used to bring more land under irrigation, but instead to reduce water use. Finally, beginning farmers or “socially disadvantaged farmers” may receive “more attention.”
In addition to EQIP, the Conservation Stewardship Program, which was authorized in the last farm bill, is currently available for sign-up. The program is voluntary and offers further assistance for implementing additional conservation measures.
To read the Southwest Farm Press story click here.
Posted: 09/10/09
