Iowa NRCS Opens First Ground & Surface Water Conservation EQIP Sign-up

June 16, 2004

The USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) recently received $170,800 for cost-share and incentive payments to agricultural producers through the Groundwater and Surface Water Conservation (GSWC) Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP). This is the first year for GSWC funding in Iowa.

Agricultural producers may sign up for GSWC at their local USDA service center. The signup is continuous, but first consideration will be given to applications received by July 2, 2004.

The purpose of GSWC EQIP is to promote ground and surface water conservation by providing up to 50 percent cost share and incentive payments to producers to carry out eligible water conservation activities. In Iowa GSWC will focus on increasing the water use efficiency of irrigation systems statewide, converting irrigated cropland to non-irrigated cropland, groundwater recharge in western Iowa and statewide development of water supply ponds of grazing livestock.

Use of GSWC funds must result in a net savings in ground or surface water resources in the producers' ag production. To be eligible for irrigation practices or management practices, land must have been irrigated for two of the last five years.

In addition to ponds, other conservation practices included GSWC for the deep loess soil areas in western Iowa are terraces, no till, crop rotation and contour buffer strips. GSWC was first funded in 17 states in fiscal year 2003. Fifteen states, including Iowa, were added this fiscal year. To find out more about GSWC, go to www.ia.nrcs.usda.gov. The USDA-NRCS provides leadership in a partnership effort to help people conserve, maintain and improve our natural resources and environment.

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Contacts:

Dennis Pate, Acting State Conservationist, NRCS, 515-284-4260
Larry Beeler, EQIP Program Specialist, NRCS, 515-323-2235

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