The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Alabama reminds landowners the signup batching deadline for fiscal 2019 funding for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) is Thursday, April 25.
This signup includes programs involving wildlife, forestry, cropland erosion, cropland irrigation, grazing land and water-quality concerns. Plus, there are national and statewide initiatives also included like Forest Service Partnership, On-Farm Energy, Organic, Seasonal High Tunnel, Urban High Tunnel, Conservation Activity Plans, Feral Swine Management, Working Lands for Wildlife 2.0, Sustainable Forestry and Landowner Retention, Alabama Soil Health, Strikeforce, Soil Quality, Statewide Irrigation, Combustion Engine Improvement, The United Christian Community Association and the Gulf of Mexico Initiative.
Special emphasis participants like socially disadvantaged, limited resource, and beginning farmers and ranchers are eligible for a higher payment rate. In addition, socially disadvantaged, limited resource, and beginning farmers and ranchers can receive up to 50 percent advanced payment for purchasing materials or contracting.
While applications for EQIP are accepted on a continuous basis, this batching period for 2019 funding ends April 25. For more information, visit your local USDA Service Center or go to the Alabama NRCS website at al.nrcs.usda.gov.