Our Mission Helping people help the land Our

Our Mission Helping people help the land. Our Vision Productive Lands ---Healthy Environment NRCS Natural Resources Conservation Service

Environmental Quality Incentives Program Financial Incentives for Nutrient and Pest Management USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service January 19, 2007

How EQIP Works at the Local Level µ Locally Led Process µ Based on Sound Conservation Planning µ For Working Lands ¶ Not Land Retirement µ Financial Assistance µ Agreements with Landusers

ANNUAL PROCESS – Are You Involved? Measure Performance Implement Plan USDA Programs EQIP We are here Conservation District convenes and leads local working group with partners Locally Led Conservation Model Conservation Action Plan & Proposals Public Participation and Conservation Needs Assessment Identify and Prioritize Needs Goal Setting Identify programs and funding

Locally Led Natural Resource Problems or Concerns These Will Vary By County Soil tilth µ Invasive plants µ Water quality µ Water quantity µ Poor grazing µ Animal health µ Habitat µ Air quality µ Agriculture Chemicals µ Nutrients µ Soil compaction µ Irrigation water management µ Landuse conversion µ

Conservation Planning Solves Resource Concerns Overgrazing Water development Cross fencing Prescribed grazing Redcedar Invasion Brush management mechanical chemical biological

Conservation Planning Solves Resource Concerns Grade stabilization structure (GSS) Soil erosion sheet and rill gully ephemeral Cropland Grasslands Diversions Sediment Basin

Financial Assistance Through written agreements (contracts) with landusers - NRCS provides a share of the cost the landuser incurs in installing the conservation practices and systems that solve a specified natural resource problem.

Good Planning Merges with Financial Assistance in an EQIP Contract Conservation Plan Program Contract Participant Install practices Payment of costs Maintain practices NRCS Yada Design and layout practices Payment of cost-share to participant Technical assistance

Environmental Quality Incentives Program Summary µ Uses locally led process µ Provides financial assistance for structural, vegetative, and management practices µ Requires an EQIP plan of operations µ Cost sharing may pay up to 75% of the costs of structural practices µ Incentive Payments Are a Flat Rate per Acre

Incentive Payments Explained µManagement Practices µNot currently or previously being used by that person µNot a subsidy µReduces Financial Risk of Adopting New Management or Technology µViable Practice Without The Payment µHigh Potential of Being Continued After Payment Ends

Available Incentive Payments Nutrient and Pest Management µ Nutrient Management ¶Calibration Strips ¶Chemigation ¶Precision Sensor ¶Split Application of Nitrogen µ Pest Management ¶Through Crop Systems

Nutrient Management Calibration Strips DEFINITION µThis is an incentive payment for the application of nutrients in a manner that minimizes the risk of leaving the field. It includes the use of nitrogen rich or ramped calibration strips in crop fields to determine split application rates for nitrogen. It includes the use of precision tools (i. e. Green. Seeker) to determine nitrogen needs as well as application tools to establish nitrogen rich strips or ramped calibration strips. µMust Meet Nutrient Management Standard

Nutrient Management Calibration Strips µRATE ¶$5. 00/acre µDOLLAR CAP ¶$3, 200. 00/year µACRE CAP ¶ 640 µTIME LIMIT ¶Up to 3 Years

Nutrient Management Chemigation DEFINITION µThis is an incentive payment to use improved technology for nutrient management applications to crops and grasses. Allowable when nutrients are applied through irrigation systems using chemigation valves and components. Applications must be according to the Nutrient Management standard (590) and not exceed recommended crop and grass yield requirements and not cause surface or ground water quality problems. µMust Meet Nutrient Management Standard

Nutrient Management Chemigation µRATE ¶$8. 00/acre µDOLLAR CAP ¶$5, 120. 00/year µACRE CAP ¶ 640 µTIME LIMIT ¶Up to 3 Years

Nutrient Management Precision Sensor DEFINITION µThis is an incentive payment to use advanced technology for nutrient management applications to crops and grasses. Includes the costs of application of nutrients (labor and equipment) using precision sensor technology (i. e. Green. Seeker) to deliver prescribed fertilizer through spray systems at variable rates across a crop or grass field, resulting in more efficient use of fertilizers according to the actual plant needs which are variable across the field. µMust Meet Nutrient Management Standard

Nutrient Management Precision Sensor µRATE ¶$12. 00/acre µDOLLAR CAP ¶$7, 680. 00/year µACRE CAP ¶ 640 µTIME LIMIT ¶Up to 3 Years

Nutrient Management Split Application of Nitrogen DEFINITION µThis is an incentive payment related to the methods used for nitrogen applications on the field. Application of fertilizer will be done as split applications during the growing season. No more than 75% of annual needs are applied at one time. Records will be maintained which document application rates, times, amounts, soil test results, etc. µMust Meet Nutrient Management Standard

Nutrient Management Split Application of Nitrogen µRATE ¶$1. 00/acre µDOLLAR CAP ¶$640. 00/year µACRE CAP ¶ 640 µTIME LIMIT ¶Up to 3 Years

Pest Management Through Crop Systems DEFINITION µThis is an incentive payment to use crop systems that aid in the control or suppression of pests and reduce the overall use of pesticides in the field. It covers the extra costs necessary for the purchase of the crop seed technology (GMOs) and/or labor expenses associated with pest control (Organic Farming). It also includes costs for using RTK level GPS auto steer on equipment and/or auto boom control to reduce spray overlap. µMust Meet Pest Management Standard

Pest Management Through Crop Systems µRATE ¶$10. 00/acre µDOLLAR CAP ¶$6, 400. 00/year µACRE CAP ¶ 640 µTIME LIMIT ¶Up to 3 Years

Examples of Other Incentive Payments That Are Available µNo-Till ¶$15. 00/acre with $19, 200 Cap µConservation Crop Rotation ¶$20. 00/acre with $12, 800 Cap µConversion of Class IV or Worse Cropland to Grass ¶$10. 00/acre with $6, 400 Cap µPatch Burn Grazing ¶$5. 00/acre with $6, 400 Cap

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