Howard County EQIP

The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) is a voluntary conservation program of the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) that promotes agricultural production and environmental quality. This program is available to farmers and offers financial and technical assistance to install or implement structural and management practices on eligible agricultural land.

The following are Howard County resource concerns to be addressed by EQIP:

• Soil Erosion – Sheet and rill, ephemeral and classic gully
• Soil Condition – Organic Matter Depletion, Animal Waste Contamination (N, P, K)
• Water Quality – Excessive Nutrients and Organics in Groundwater and Surface Water.
• Air Quality – Objectionable Odors, Excessive Greenhouse Gas (CO2), Particulate matter (PM 2.5, PM 10)
• Fish and Wildlife – Inadequate cover/shelter, Inadequate food, T & E Species
• Domestic Animals – Inadequate quantities and quality of feed and forage, inadequate water
• Plant Condition – Productivity, health and vigor; water quality and palatability

These resource concerns address the following National EQIP priorities:

1. Reduction of non-point source pollution, such as nutrients, sediment, pesticides, or excess salinity IN IMPAIRED WATERSHEDS CONSISTENT WITH Total Daily Maximum Loads (TMDL’s), where available, as well as the reduction of groundwater contamination and reduction of point sources such as contamination from confined animal feeding operations.        
2. Reduction in soil erosion and sedimentation from unacceptable high levels on agricultural land.  
3. Promotion of at-risk species habitat conservation.            
4. Reduction of emissions, such as particulate matter, nitrogen (NOx), volatile organic compounds, and ozone precursors and depleters that contribute to air quality impairment violations of National Ambient Air Quality Standards.

Lake Hendricks: is on the 303d list for sediment and nutrient loading. Some of the practices are grade stabilization structures, tile filters, water and sediment basins, timber stand improvements and streambank/shoreline protection.  In time, and through continued monitoring, the in-lake nutrient concentrations should decrease to the point to eliminate the impairments.

Staff and Beaver Creeks: The project goal is to reduce nutrient levels and sedimentaion to the streams. To acheive these goals we offer the following practices wetland creation, grassed waterways, terrraces, ag waste structures.

The goal of the locally led group was to recommend a ranking system that rewarded and gave priority to those producers that address the above resource concerns. A high priority also wanted to be given to applicants implementing waste management systems as well as applicants applying long-term no-till and strip-till practices. To avoid having the two compete, the local work group decided to split the EQIP allocation (25% Land Treatment and 75% Livestock Concerns). Sign-up is continuous at the NRCS field office. Application ranking will be done periodically as funding allocations become available, will be announced through the NRCS State Office, and will be publicized by all levels of NRCS. The NRCS may establish local, minimum ranking cut-off levels for funding selection.

The local work group also recommended a list of conservation practices that are the most cost-effective, longest duration and address these priority resource concerns in the district.

For more information on EQIP and other NRCS administrated programs, contact the Howard County USDA Service Center located at 311 7th Street Southwest, Suite 2, Cresco, IA  52136. Phone (563) 547-3040. Fax (563) 547-3701.

The following files require Acrobat Reader.

EQIP Application Ranking - 2009    New!

EQIP Practice List - 2008    For Archival Purposes Only
EQIP Application Ranking - 2008    For Archival Purposes Only
EQIP Nutrient Management Intensity Options - 2008    For Archival Purposes Only

EQIP Practice List - 2007    For Archival Purposes Only
EQIP Application Ranking - 2007    For Archival Purposes Only
EQIP Nutrient Management Intensity Options - 2007    For Archival Purposes Only

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