Chamber News

Federal Funding Available for Farmers and Forest Land Owners

Nearly $10 million is now available for Virginia farmers and forest land owners who would like to address soil and water conservation concerns on their land. The funds are provided through the federal Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).

FIRST 2010 SIGN-UP PERIOD UNDERWAY FOR PATRICK COUNTY FARMERS AND FOREST LAND OWNERS. First ranking period ends February 19th. Nearly $10 million is now available for Virginia farmers and forest land owners who would like to address soil and water conservation concerns on their land. The funds are provided through the federal Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service(NRCS). While EQIP sign-up is continuous throughout the year, land owners are encouraged to apply now in order for their applications to be considered during the first ranking period which ends February 19, 2010. The primary resource concerns for the 2010 EQIP include animal waste, cropland, pastureland and forestland, organic farming. Incentive payments generally range from 50 to 75% and are available for a wide variety of conservation practices. Higher payment rates are offered for beginning, socially disadvantaged and limited-resource farmers. Examples of eligible practices include a broader menu of cover crop and no-till practices to improve soil quality; help with excluding livestock from streams and woodlands; waste storage facilities, livestock trails and stream crossings; and riparian buffers to protect water quality. “In federal fiscal year 2009, some 322 EQIP projects were funded statewide for a total of approximately $10 million,� says Wade Biddix, Assistant State Conservationist for Programs. He added, “This year there are even more options. Whether you want to switch to rotational grazing, help with a wet area or just want to give that cornfield a rest, EQIP can help.� Call the NRCS Stuart Field office at 694-3121 ext. 3 or stop by our office to schedule a time to sign up and begin the easy conservation planning process. Our office is located in the USDA Service Center on Stonewall Court in Stuart behind Stuart Baptist Church along with the Patrick County Soil and Water Conservation District and the Farm Service Agency. General program information is available on the NRCS Virginia website at www.va.nrcs.usda.gov.