Farmers, Ranchers Receive Additional Money for Conservation
NRCS-AZ will fund 75 percent of all EQIP Projects in 2008

Contact: George Couch (602) 280-8806   

PHOENIX, ARIZ. - Sept. 10, 2007 - Farmers and ranchers who qualify for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program for 2008 will be funded for 75 percent of their project, an increase from 50 percent in 2007.

EQIP, one of the largest programs in the Farm Bill, is a voluntary conservation program that promotes environmental quality and assists producers to meet local, state and federal regulations. EQIP funds help farmers and ranchers reduce soil erosion, improve water use efficiencies and protect grazing land by installing conservation practices that protect natural resources. The Natural Resources Conservation Service administers the program.

Agricultural producers can apply for EQIP at any time. However, NRCS will rank all current applications received by Oct. 1. All applications received by Oct. 1 will be ranked by Nov. 30. Additional ranking periods will be announced at a later date.

In addition to the 75 percent cost-share available, beginning and limited resource farmers can get 90 percent of their projects funded.

Contact your local USDA Service Center for more information.
 

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