Farmers and ranchers face various challenges each year, but the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has programs to help in many of those cases. One is the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), which provides financial and technical assistance to agricultural and forestry producers to address natural resource concerns and deliver environmental benefits. This includes improved water and air quality, conserved ground and surface water, reduced soil erosion and sedimentation, and improved or created wildlife habitat.
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Alabama wants producers to know they will work with you through this voluntary conservation program to invest in solutions that conserve natural resources for the future while also improving agricultural operations. NRCS can provide financial resources and help to plan and implement improvements.
NRCS will work one-on-one with you to develop a conservation plan that meets your goals and vision for the land. This then becomes a roadmap for which conservation practices best meet your needs. They offer about 200 practices depending on where your land is located. These practices are geared towards working farms, ranches and forests and provide producers with many options for conservation.
Learn more about EQIP and how it could benefit your operation by contacting your local NRCS office. More information is also available on the Alabama NRCS website.