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Florida 2006 EQIP Fact and Ranking Information

All Ranking documents are provided for guidance only. The only persons approved to rank any applications are NRCS employees. For additional information please contact your local NRCS office.

Documents on this page may require Microsoft Word or Microsoft Excel

Water Quality Concerns Related to Confined Livestock Operations

Florida NRCS, with concurrence from the Florida State Technical Committee, has decided to rank all Confined Livestock Operations (dairy, swine and poultry) on a statewide basis.

Confined Livestock Operation Ranking Criteria FY06(60K)

GROUND AND SURFACE WATER (GSW)

The Environmental Quality Incentives Programs (EQIP) Ground and Surface Water (GSW) Funding will be available from NRCS in five southwest Florida counties. The five counties are Charlotte, Desoto, Hillsborough, Manatee, and Sarasota. These counties have been designated the Southern Water Use Caution Area (SWUCA) by the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) because of depressed water levels in wells and saltwater intrusion in this area.

The funds for the GSW will be competed in the five county area and will only pay for practices that provide for a net savings of water. A single ranking form will be used and monies will be provided to the applicants with the highest priority needs. Once all the funding from the GSW has been utilized applications that were part of the GSW will then be available to compete for funds with in their county of origin depending on their local ranking.

EQIP will provide incentives to growers willing to minimize water use on irrigated cropland. The incentive will serve to target low water use efficiency by sharing the cost of improving inefficient (increase efficiency by at least 10%) irrigation systems, installing irrigation regulating reservoirs or Tail Water Recovery Systems (TWR), and implementing drainage water management.

All practices will be funded at a 50 percent cost-share rate. All contracts will be limited to a cost shared amount for each practice not to exceed $100,000. All people meeting the definition of Limited Resource Farmer will receive cost-share up to the rate of 90% on all eligible practices.

A complete conservation plan, normally developed to the Resource Management System level, will be produced by NRCS staff and provided to all clients who receive EQIP funding. The conservation plan is a management tool that clients can use to best implement and utilize the cost-shared funds and other technical assistance provided by NRCS. Various receipts and documents associated with the installed practices are required prior to any reimbursement. EQIP payments will be initiated once the cost-shared practices have been adequately implemented and certified by NRCS.

Ground and Surface Water Funding Criteria (42K)

Restoration of Native Rangelands to Benefit Wildlife and Range Resources

A special project is now available to provide financial assistance to landowners who are interested in improving Bobwhite quail habitat. The project is funded by the USDA Environmental Quality Habitat Program (EQIP). Cost-share incentives to landowners who are managing their rangelands in a manner that improves Bobwhite quail habitat.

The primary objective of this project is to help restore and improve habitat for bobwhite quail while improving forage resources on rangeland. This goal will help improve Bobwhite quail populations that have declined significantly on rangelands in south central Florida. This project is part of a larger regional initiative to increase bobwhite quail on private lands in the Southern U.S. While bobwhites are the focal species for this project, many other wildlife species will benefit from this project, including wild turkeys, white-tailed deer and songbirds.

The goal of this project is to improve Bobwhite quail habitat on 54,000 acres of rangeland. This will be accomplished by providing financial incentives to landowners who improve the habitat quality of their rangelands. The financial incentives will be in the form of cost-share payments for conservation practices some of which include: prescribed burning, brush management, and range planting. To maximize the long-term effect of the project, contracts will include conservation plans that incorporate cost-shared practices required for maintenance and management during the contract duration.

The project targets ranches in Charlotte, Desoto, Glades, Highlands, and Sarasota counties. These counties are currently part of a regional project focusing on increasing quail populations in Florida. This project is being implemented through a collaborative partnership between the USDA – Natural Resources Conservation Service, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, University of Georgia, University of Florida, and Tall Timbers Research Station.

For More Information Contact your local Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Office.

Deadline for sign up for the current funding period is December 15, 2005

Quail Habitat Ranking (33 kb)

Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) Irrigation System Retrofit Program

The EQIP Irrigation System Retrofit Program is a cost-share program available through NRCS to assist center pivot irrigation system users in retrofitting or up-grading existing center pivot irrigation systems with low pressure sprinkler packages and end guns in order to increase irrigation efficiency. The goal of the Irrigation System Retrofit Program is water savings.

Program Priorities:

Converting overhead impact sprinklers to drops
Converting overhead sprays to drops
Updating nozzles and pressure regulators on existing drops
Updating nozzles and pressure regulators on existing overhead

Cost-Sharable Practices:

Sprinkler package which includes sprinklers, pressure regulators, drop lines, weights, hoses and installation
End guns which include nozzles, valves, shut-off devices, booster pump and installation
Irrigation water management practices and devices

NRCS will provide 50% cost share on approved cost-sharable practices based on rates established by NRCS. EQIP cost-share rates for limited resources producers may be up to 90 percent. USDA has a self-determination tool for applicants to determine eligibility as a limited resource producer.

(Note: Person must have an approved EQIP contract in order to receive payment.)

Eligibility:

Persons irrigating with center pivot irrigation systems are eligible to participate provided that the irrigation system for which they request cost-share assistance to retrofit was not installed with Federal cost-share assistance within the last 15 years. The person making an application for the EQIP Irrigation System Retrofit Program will be referred to as an “Applicant”. To be eligible to participate in EQIP, an Applicant must be an individual, entity or joint operation and meet all of the following eligibility criteria:

Land contained in application has been irrigated two (2) out of last five (5) years.
Applicant agrees to implement a NRCS approved Irrigation Water Management Plan.
Be an agricultural producer engaged in livestock or agricultural production.
Have an interest in the farming operation associated with the land being offered for enrollment in EQIP.
Have control of the land for the term of the proposed contract. For structural practices, the applicant must submit a written concurrence by the landowner at the time of application.
Be in compliance with the provisions for protecting the interests of tenants and sharecroppers, including the provisions for sharing EQIP payments on a fair and equitable basis.
Be in compliance with the highly erodible land and wetland conservation provisions.
Be within appropriate payment limitation requirements
Be in compliance with Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) requirement

Applications for the EQIP Irrigation System Retrofit Program will be accepted December 15, 2005, at your local USDA Service Center, listed in the telephone book under U.S. Department of Agriculture. If you need more information about this program, please contact your local USDA Service Center or your local Conservation District.

FY06 Retrofit Prescreening v3 (33 kb)
FY06 Retrofit v2 (37 kb)

Small Farmer Initiative

State Conservationist, T. Niles Glasgow, announced the Small-Scale Farm Initiative to help farmers overcome barriers they face in reaching their conservation goals. The NRCS established this new initiative to help small farmers to co-exist side-by-side with larger agricultural operations. It will enhance the viability and economic livelihood of Florida’ estimated 23,000 small farmers and ranchers.

Florida sign-up period for FY2006 has been extended until February 15, 2006.

Florida Small-scale/Limited Resource Farmer Fact Sheet Updated 1/20/06
Limited Resource Farmer Self Determination Tool
Florida Small-scale/Limited Resource Farmers Ranking Sheet

Suwannee Watershed Ranking Sheet
Invasive Species Ranking Sheet

USDA programs are available to all eligible persons without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, and marital or familial status.

Florida Program Contact

Jeffrey Woods, Assistant State Conservationist for Programs, 352-338-9515

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Last Modified 09/28/2007