2008 NRCS Programs to Start!
The Maryland sign-up period for 2008 conservation programs is scheduled to begin October 15 th 2007. Right now, EQIP is the primary program available to provide financial assistance for agricultural conservation practices. These financial assistance applications will be accepted and ranked on a continuous basis throughout the year. All applications meeting the minimum score following the monthly ranking will be eligible for funding. Other applications will be deferred until funds are available.
As with past sign-ups you must have USDA eligibility on file at the Farm Service Agency (FSA) before you can submit an application for EQIP. The necessary eligibility paperwork can be completed at the NRCS office. To be fully eligible for EQIP; the applicant must produce a minimum of $1,000.00 in agricultural products produced and sold on the applicant’s farming operation. Horse boarding operations that do not also produce crops, livestock, or timber products for sale probably do not meet this criterion.
Maryland NRCS is offering a special Feed Management Program to dairy farmers that work with a certified nutritionist. This program pays dairymen a 3 year incentives payment for formulating their rations more accurately to reduce the percentage of nitrogen and phosphorous excretion in their herds manure.
Some of the practices EQIP have provided financial assistance for in previous years include: Prescribed rotational grazing, fencing, pasture and hayland planting, waterlines & troughs, water wells, stream crossings, heavy use areas, reforestation, field borders, poultry house vegetative environmental buffers, poultry house pads, pest and nutrient management. Check out more on our Maryland NRCS website www.md.nrcs.usda.gov and click on programs.
If you are interested in finding out more these programs and what they could offer you or investigate the application process, please call or stop in for more information.