USDA announced this week that they will utilize nearly $16 million in financial and technical assistance to immediately help both crop and livestock producers in 19 states, including a few counties in Alabama. And State Conservationist Dr. William Puckett said that i8ncludes using existing EQIP funds to help livestock producers.
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Auburn, Ala, Aug. 8, 2012 – USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) State Conservationist Dr. William Puckett said “Alabama is one of 19 states experiencing extreme drought conditions. NRCS is committed to providing financial and technical assistance to help eligible crop and livestock producers alleviate the drought’s impacts, and improve soil health and productivity.”
Funding will be made available to Alabama producers through the Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program (WHIP) and Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). Applications received by August 10, 2012, will be considered during the first batching period. Funds will be targeted toward primary and contiguous counties experiencing extreme or exceptional drought conditions based on the July 24, 2012, U.S. Drought Monitor: Barbour, Bullock, Chambers, Clay, Cleburne, Coosa, Dale, Elmore, Henry, Houston, Lee, Macon, Montgomery, Randolph, Russell, Talladega, and Tallapoosa.
Eligible producers can apply for selected conservation practices. Examples of WHIP
practices include re-forestation of longleaf pine stands and prescribed burning for fuel reduction Examples of EQIP practices include watering facilities, wells, ponds and pond renovations, cover crops, conservation tillage and mulch tillage, and rainwater harvesting on poultry houses.
Eligible producers statewide can also request financial assistance to re-apply failed conservation practices due to the drought and modify existing contracts to re-schedule planned conservation practices.
For more information, visit the NRCS website at www.al.nrcs.usda.gov or the local NRCS office at http://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov.