EQIP Funding Available for Ground and Surface Water Conservation

Salina, Kansas—The NRCS has announced Friday, February 8, 2008, as the cutoff date for producers in a Quick Response Area (QRA) to submit Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) Ground and Surface Water Conservation (GSWC) applications to be considered for Fiscal Year (FY) 2008 funding.

According to Astor F. Boozer, Acting State Conservationist for Kansas, the national NRCS office has provided funding for EQIP GSWC. The EQIP signup last fall provided no funding for GSWC. In Kansas, this funding is only available for water quantity resource concerns in the identified QRAs.

EQIP GSWC Provision: Quick Response Areas (QRAs)

Producers in QRAs, who have a water quantity resource concern, may apply for financial assistance through the GSWC provisions of EQIP according to Troy J. Munsch, Assistant State Conservationist for Programs, Salina.

"QRAs, or Quick Response Areas, were introduced for EQIP funding two years ago and are available again this year to improve the effectiveness of EQIP Ground and Surface Water Conservation funds," said Munsch. "The QRAs have changed a little from those last year. These areas were identified by the four western Kansas Groundwater Management Districts and the Kansas Division of Water Resources."

The following file requires Acrobat Reader.

Quick Response Areas (PDF; 339 KB)

The NRCS will provide EQIP financial assistance for approved applications located within the QRAs where producers convert irrigated cropland to nonirrigated cropland or grassland.

When producers apply for 2008 EQIP GSWC funding, they will be required to fill out a Kansas EQIP Self-Assessment Worksheet - Irrigation - Quick Response Areas prior to the application evaluation period cutoff date.

Limited Resource and Beginning Farmers and Ranchers

"EQIP is available to help address the unique circumstances and concerns of limited resource and beginning farmers, who have irrigated land with a water quantity natural resource concern that needs to be addressed," said Munsch.

"In Kansas limited resource and beginning farmers and ranchers may receive a higher conservation practice payment through EQIP."

Apply at Local NRCS Office

Information about 2008 EQIP is available on the Kansas NRCS Web site or is available at your local USDA Service Center from the NRCS or conservation district staff. This will include information about 2008 EQIP; EQIP fact sheets explaining Kansas EQIP, GSWC, and QRA; map of QRA; the Kansas EQIP: Self-Assessment Worksheets; an application form; a list of eligible practices and practice payment schedule; and specifics on Kansas's ranking process, including criteria used to evaluate applications.

Last Modified: 08/27/2008