State receives $14.5 million
for conservation practices
Posted 7/3/03

$14.5 million has been allocated by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to Minnesota agriculture producers to implement natural resources conservation practices through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), State Conservationist William Hunt announced today. This is a significant increase in funding and is a product of the 2002 Federal Farm Bill.

EQIP is a voluntary conservation program from the USDA - NRCS. It supports agriculture production and environmental quality as compatible goals. Structural, vegetative and management conservation practices are eligible to receive funding. Natural resource concerns related to soil erosion, water quality, air quality and wildlife concerns are priorities for EQIP.

Producers who are interested in receiving cost-share or incentive payments should visit their local USDA county office and apply for EQIP. Applications received by the close of business on Aug. 1, 2003 will be considered in the initial 2003 scoring period. It is anticipated that the entire EQIP allocation will be obligated during this initial period. Therefore, sign up now if you are interested in EQIP.

Information is available on the Web at http://www.usda.gov /farmbill