USDA Conservation Programs for 2016 Now Available in Ohio

POMEROY — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) now has 2016 Federal conservation program funds available for Ohio farmers and forestland owners, including two programs geared towards Meigs County landowners.

Farmers and forestland owners may apply for funding under the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) at any time throughout the year, but application selections for funding are made at specific times. The first 2016 application deadline is Feb. 19.

EQIP provides financial assistance for conservation management and structures (practices) and technical assistance to develop a conservation plan. The conservation plan and practices help agricultural producers and forestland owners improve the natural resources on their property. These practices also benefit the public by improving water quality, reducing soil erosion, and improving soil health, wildlife habitat, and conserving energy.

Programs geared toward southeastern Ohio landowners include the Southern Ohio Appalachian EQIP for pasture owners, and the Cerulean Warbler Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) EQIP for tree planting on reclaimed strip mines to benefit the Cerulean Warbler, an at-risk species.

Landowners should make an appointment with their local NRCS office as soon as possible to begin the conservation planning process. In Meigs County, landowners may contact Carrie Crislip, NRCS district conservationist, at 740-992-4282 or stop by the USDA Service Center at 113 East Memorial Drive, Pomeroy (on the hill across the parking lot from the old hospital). General program information is available on the NRCS Ohio website at www.oh.nrcs.usda.gov.

Eligible producers who sign up for EQIP may receive a payment based on the statewide average cost for installing planned conservation practices. Socially disadvantaged, limited resource, and beginning farmers and ranchers are eligible for a higher payment rate. Veteran farmers who are also new or beginning farmers receive the higher payment rate.

Applications for EQIP submitted by entities, such as farmers applying as a corporation, must register with the Central Contractor Registration (CCR), a process that can take up to 3 weeks. Information about CCR requirements, including obtaining a Data Universal Number System (DUNS) number, is posted on the NRCS website at www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/farmbill.

Dedicated EQIP funds are available for conservation practices targeting On-Farm Energy, Organic Systems, High Tunnel Systems, Honeybee and other wildlife habitat, as well as several landscape-based initiatives, including:

· Livestock EQIP – Livestock farmers statewide (includes pastured livestock)

· Cropland EQIP – Crop farmers statewide EXCEPT those farming in the Western Lake Erie Basin Watershed

· Forestry EQIP – Private forestland owners statewide

· Southern Ohio Appalachian EQIP – Pasture operations in Adams, Athens, Coshocton, Gallia, Guernsey, Harrison, Highland, Jackson, Jefferson, Lawrence, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Muskingum, Noble, Perry, Pike, Scioto, Vinton, and Washington counties

· Cerulean Warbler Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) EQIP – Tree planting on reclaimed mined land in Adams, Athens, Belmont, Carroll, Coshocton, Gallia, Guernsey, Harrison, Hocking, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Lawrence, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Muskingum, Noble, Perry, Pike, Ross, Scioto, Tuscarawas, Vinton, and Washington counties.

Additional EQIP funding will be available in 2016 for other landscape-based initiatives and priority natural resource issues. NRCS will post announcements of these future 2016 EQIP application ranking deadline dates on the Ohio NRCS website at http://www.oh.nrcs.usda.gov.