Ag Weekly Online: Twin Falls, Idaho

BOISE, Idaho - The Natural Resources Conservation Service will begin ranking applications for the 2009 Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) on July 14. While EQIP is a continuous signup program, NRCS sets cutoff dates annually to begin the ranking process for the given program year.

After July 14, the applications received to that date will be ranked and considered for funding sometime after Oct. 1. The early cutoff for beginning the ranking of applications this year will help producers be better able to install a practice within the first 12 months of the contract.

Anyone who applied for EQIP in 2008 but were not funded do not need to do anything further at this time as those application will be automatically deferred to 2009. NRCS will contact those applicants later if further information is needed.

Any applications received after July 14 will be deferred to either a later ranking cutoff deadline for the 2009 program or for the 2010 program year. Until the rules for the 2009 program are written, the agency has no way to know the exact outcome of the ranking process or contract development. Anyone with plans to install any conservation projects or practices such as irrigation-system improvements, livestock watering facilities, no-till or reduced tillage cropping systems or any of many other practices on their farm or ranch and would like to consider using this program to help with the costs, should contact their local NRCS office.