USDA-NRCS COST SHARE PROGRAM

1
USDA-NRCS COST SHARE PROGRAM

• BILL HUGHES
• STATE RESOURCE CONSERVATIONIST

2
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY INCENTIVES PROGRAM (EQIP)

• Regular Program.10,412,279
• Special Programs
• Litter Transport.692,885
• Invasive Species..293,178
• Water Conservation.236,900
• Total EQIP..11,656,824

3
OTHER PROGRAMS

• Wildlife Habitat Incentives
• Program (WHIIP)...426,955
• Grassland Reserve Program (GRP)
• Contracts.......269,000
• Easement...373,400
• Wetland Reserve Program (WRP)
• Easement...680,000
• Farm Ranchland Protection
• Program (FRPP)
• Easements.......1,035,500

4
Total Cost Shares/Easements

• 14,344,300

5
EQIP Regular Program

• Erosion on Cropland
• Water QualityAnimal Waste
• Grazing Lands
• Water Conservation
• At-Risk Species (wildlife and ecosystems)

6
EQIPLitter Transport

• Movement of Poultry Litter from heavy poultry
  production counties to others
• Contracts with recipient producers
• Three years maximum
• Establish relationships and develop logistics for
  continued usage of litter
• Funded by Ranking

7
EQIP-Invasive Species

• Assist Landowners in controlling invasive plants
  identified by Invasive Plant Council
• Follow recommended treatment herbicides, timing
  and management
• Incentive payments for 3 years and one year
  follow-up
• Funded by Ranking

8
EQIP-Water Conservation

• To assist producers in making existing irrigation
  systems more efficient
• 3 year incentive payments
• Retooling or replacing system
• Other water conserving agronomic and management
  practices associated
• Funded by Ranking

9
Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program

• Develop Habitats to encourage populations of
  at-risk or species with less than potential
  populations in the state
• Habitats Longleaf pine ecosystem, early
  successional habitat, Open-Canopy Forests, etc.
• Target Species TEs, quail, waterfowl,
  neo-tropical birds

10
Grassland Reserve Program

• Agreements with landowners to retain land in
  grass into future.
• 10, 15, 20, 30 year Long Term Agreements
• 30 year and Perpetual Easements
• Protect from conversion to other uses, i.e. urban
  sprawl, cultivation, forested

11
Wetland Reserve Program

• To return prior converted wetlands back to a
  planned wetland condition
• Long Term Agreements, 30 year Perpetual
  Easements
• All Perpetual Easements to date

12
Farm Ranchland Protection Program

• To protect prime and unique farmland from risk of
  conversion to non-farm uses, i.e. commercial or
  residential development
• Perpetual easement to purchase development rights
• Able to retain in farming, following normal
  farming practices
• Able to transfer to family, sell, etc. with
  easement attached

13
Conservation Security Program (CSP)

• Wheeler Lake Watershed
• 700,000 acres
• 5,500 farms
• Parts of 8 Alabama counties and 3 Tennessee
  Counties
• High percentage and acres of Cropland and Pasture

14
Cropland

• Crop Rotation (2-3 years high residue crop in
  rotation)
• Conservation Tillage (High Residue)
• Field Borders
• Terraces, waterways, etc. as needed
• Nutrient Management
• Pest Management
• Willing to pursue additional conservation
  enhancements

15
Pasture

• Following Grazing Plan (rotating pasture)
• Cross Fencing
• Water Supplies
• Pest Management
• Nutrient Management
• Keep livestock and grazing records
• Willing to pursue additional conservation
  enhancements