|
| |
NRCS Colorado Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP)
- 2010

The
Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) was reauthorized
in the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (Farm Bill) to
provide a voluntary conservation program for farmers and ranchers that
promotes agricultural production and environmental quality as compatible
national goals. EQIP offers financial and technical help to assist
eligible participants install or implement structural and management
practices on eligible agricultural land. Additional information about
this environmental improvement program can be found on the
NRCS National Website.
Or contact NRCS at your local
USDA Service Center.
2010 Organic Initiative
Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Colorado has $1.2
million in fiscal year 2010 set aside to assist organic farming
operations and individuals transitioning to organic farming.
The 2008 Farm Bill highlights the availability of financial and
technical assistance to help producers of all commodities meet their
conservation goals, including producers transitioning to organic farming
and currently certified organic producers. The assistance from the
Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) through the EQIP program
helps producers plan and implement conservation practices to allow their
organic operations to be environmentally sustainable. EQIP is primarily
used to provide financial and technical assistance to implement
conservation practices to address soil, water, air, plant, animal, and
energy resources. A new organic provision targets organic producers and
producers transitioning to organic production:
- Assistance is for conservation practices related to organic production
- Assistance is limited to $20,000 per year and $80,000 during a six year period
- Producers are required to develop and carry out an Organic System Plan (OSP) or carry out practices consistent with an OSP
- Producers must be pursing an organic certification or in compliance with their organic certification
The organic initiative opportunity is offered State wide and
applications are accepted on an ongoing basis. To be considered for 2010
funding, applications will be accepted through April 16, 2010.
More information on this initiative is forthcoming.2010 Air Quality Initiative
Colorado Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is assisting
agricultural producers with reducing ozone precursors [oxides of nitrogen (NOx)
and volatile organic compounds (VOC)] emissions from agricultural sources. The
primary goal is to achieve and maintain the National Ambient Air Quality
Standards (NAAQS) within the designated nonattainment areas of Colorado.
The NRCS is providing payments for participants implementing conservation
practices on their lands that benefit air quality. The priority is to reduce
emissions by removing existing, high polluting combustion systems and replacing
with new, cleaner technologies. Funding for this initiative is provided through
the Environmental Quality Incentives Program.
Eligible counties for Air Quality Initiative
Listed below are the eligible counties and corresponding NAAQS nonattainment
pollutants. This list is intended to identify those counties eligible for the
Colorado 2010 Air Quality Initiative funding only and is not intended to limit
the implementation of any accepted air quality practice.
County
|
NAAQS Nonattainment Pollutant
|
| Adams |
8-Hr Ozone |
| Arapahoe |
8-Hr Ozone |
| Boulder |
8-Hr Ozone |
| Broomfield |
8-Hr Ozone |
| Denver |
8-Hr Ozone |
| Douglas |
8-Hr Ozone |
| Jefferson |
8-Hr Ozone |
| Larimer |
8-Hr Ozone |
| Weld |
8-Hr Ozone |
EQIP Sign-up Information On-Line
EQIP sign-up information is available online. On
the Colorado Watershed Map, click on the geographic area where your farm
or ranching interest is located. This will take you to the application
information for that area, the ranking criteria used to evaluate your
application, and a link to
Applications for the EQIP program -
NRCS-CPA-1200 and
NRCS-CPA-1202.
Colorado Watershed Map
Click on your geographic area for more EQIP information

The above Colorado Watershed Map shows the following 10 watershed areas in Colorado:
Colorado EQIP Contacts
Tim Carney
Jodi Hastings
NRCS Colorado Assistant State Conservationist NRCS Colorado EQIP Coordinator
655 Parfet Street, Room E200C 655 Parfet Street, Room E200C
Lakewood, CO 80215-5517 Lakewood, CO 80215-5517
Phone: 720.544.2805
Phone: 720.544.2821
tim.carney@co.usda.gov
jodi.hastings@co.usda.gov Last Modified:
02/08/2010
| |
|