Time to enroll in EQIP for land conservation

The premier conservation program now offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture through the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, or EQIP, which provides producers with technical and financial assistance for gaining conservation proficiency on their valuable farm and ranch land. This program embraces the many conservation cost-shared practices offered by USDA over the last nearly 70 years, plus many other relevant aspects of today’s priceless conservation management.

Through this program, agricultural landowners and operators can participate in a comprehensive plan for conservation management of a farm tract, or a whole farm operation. Conservation practices are often cost shared under the program, while monetary incentives are offered for newly established management activities.

Some of the areas of assistance offered through EQIP are: adopt no-till farming; control soil erosion; develop a grazing management plan; fight sericea lespedeza infestations; bottomland timber improvements; construct ponds, waterlines, and tanks; brush management; prescribed burning; and grass plantings.

Enrollment in EQIP for the coming year must be requested at your applicable NRCS office by Nov. 2.

To assist producers in gaining knowledge of what EQIP has to offer, NRCS personnel in Bourbon County will be offering some informational sessions open to the public next week â€" on Wednesday, Oct. 24.

The first session is set for 1 p.m. at the Community Center in Uniontown, while a later session has been announced for 7 p.m. at the Rural Water District Office south of Fort Scott. Anyone interested in this program will be welcome.

Another source of information concerning EQIP is the Web site: www.ks.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/eqip/2008, or call an NRCS office at your local USDA Service Center. USDA is an equal opportunity employer and provider.

WATERSHED ANNOUNCEMENT: all residents of the Marmaton River and Mill Creek watershed areas are invited to learn about a new project sponsored by the watershed boards â€"the Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategy (WRAPS) â€" and become informed and involved in the development of this forward looking effort.

A session open to the public has been planned for at 5:15 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 24, in the Citizens Bank training room on the second floor of the bank. In addition, to find out some more about this effort, watch for news coverage in the local print media. And if you were tuned in, information resources included an interview with some of the supporters of the program on local radio at 7:50 a.m. on Oct. 16.

All interested residents are encouraged to come on October 24th to find out about WRAPS!

NEXT WEEK’S TOPIC: the new Crop Disaster Program â€"what will qualify? And where does my farm operation fit in?