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| Pacific Islands Area - West 2006 EQIP: Sign-Up and Application InformationGeneral Program DescriptionEnvironmental Quality Incentives Program Sign-ups Underway
EQIP is a federally funded program under the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (Farm Bill) and is administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). EQIP was reauthorized in the 2002 Farm Bill. Pacific Islands Area - West Resource PrioritiesBased on the input from the Local Working Groups (LWGs), the following general resource concerns have been identified as general priorities across the Pacific Islands Area - West for FY 2006.
These general priorities address the national resource concerns such as reduction of non-point source pollutants, erosion reduction, water quality and habitat improvement. EligibilityAny farmer or rancher engaged in crop or livestock production on eligible land may apply for EQIP. Eligible land includes croplands, pasture and rangeland, private non-industrial forestland, and other land as determined by the Secretary of United States Department of Agriculture. Cost Share RatesEQIP may cost-share up to 50 percent of the costs of certain conservation practices. EQIP cost shares incentive practices at 100 percent for a period of up to three years. Limited resource producers and beginning farmers may be eligible for cost-share up to 90 percent. EQIP participants may elect to use a certified Technical Service Provider (TSP) for technical assistance. The maximum total cost-share and/or incentive payment an individual or entity may receive, directly or indirectly, is limited to $450,000. Highest priority will be given to applications that provide the most environmental benefit. Any EQIP contract in the Pacific Islands Area - West in excess of $100,000 must have NRCS Pacific Islands Area - West Director's Office and NRCS Regional Office approval. Signup and Application InformationMONGMONG, GUAM, March 17, 2006 — USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Assistant Director of the Pacific Islands Area, Mary Podoll announces the 3rd Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) sign-up session. EQIP is a voluntary cost-share conservation program to help eligible participants with financial and technical assistance in the installation and implementation of conservation practices on eligible agricultural land. Through EQIP, Guam farmers and ranchers may receive assistance for agricultural production and environmental quality as compatible goals. The current EQIP sign-up ends on March 31, 2006. Interested agricultural and livestock producers in the Pacific Islands Area - West may apply in person at any USDA Service Center in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands or Guam. Applicants may also request EQIP assistance by telephone, FAX, e-mail, or letter. (A signed application, CCC-1200, must be received no later than the close of business on the application evaluation cutoff date). Click on the link to USDA Service Centers to find the nearest office to you. The first cutoff date for FY 2006 is November 16, 2005. The second cutoff date is February 17, 2006. Ranking of ApplicationsRanking of all eligible applications will be completed after the application sign up period has been announced and the cutoff date has past. Scoring of approved applications will be done according to the Pacific Islands Area - West Ranking Criteria posted on this web page. Applications will be selected for plan development and contracting in ranked order according to the score as available funds allow. If insufficient funds are available to fund all eligible applications, applications will be held in a waiting list and may be ranked with any subsequently received applications during FY 2006. Conservation PracticesEligible conservation practices approved for cost share are included in the program to address resource concerns. Among them are: mulching, residue management, cover crop, prescribed grazing, vegetative barrier, alley cropping, tree/shrub establishment, and waste storage facility. The list of approved practices for the Pacific Islands Area - West is posted on this web site in the Pacific Islands Area - West 2006 EQIP Cost Lists. Installation of conservation practices must meet NRCS technical standards. The approved EQIP program participant will receive technical assistance for the planning and application of the conservation practices. Local Participation and Work GroupsNRCS supports the locally led conservation effort in the delivery of conservation programs. The USDA Local Work Group (LWG) serves as the starting point in the development and coordination of NRCS conservation assistance programs to provide an integral approach for addressing local natural resource concerns. The LWG ensures that the conservation needs assessment is developed using community stakeholder input. Using the assessment process, the LWG identifies resource concerns, recommends eligible practices, payment rates, cost-share levels and funding needs. The Director of the Pacific Islands Area - West will make funding available to field offices based on local requests, previous funding demand and other related factors. Available funds should be obligated by March 15, 2006. EQIP Pacific Islands Area - West Documents (Fiscal Year 2006)
The following documents require EQIP Pacific Islands Area - West Links (Fiscal Year 2006)
Limited Resource Farmer Self Determination ToolPacific Islands Area - West EQIP ContactColleen A. Simpson |
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