Ida 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 Ida County Resource Concerns to be addressed by EQIP:

1. Water Quality - Excessive Nutrients and Organics in Surface Water and Ground Water.

2. Water Quality – Excessive Sediment and Turbidity in Surface Water

3. Water Quantity – Excessive Runoff, Flooding or Ponding

4. Soil Erosion - Sheet and Rill; Ephemeral and Classic Gully; Stream Bank

5. Soil Condition-Organic matter depletion; Compaction; Animal waste contamination and other organics (N, P, and K)

6. Plant Condition - Productivity, Health, and Vigor; Forage quality and palatability

7. Fish & Wildlife - Inadequate Cover/Shelter

8. Domestic Animals – Inadequate Quality and Quantities of Feed & Forage, Inadequate Stock Water; Inadequate Shelter

9. Air Quality - Objectionable odors

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 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. Conservation of ground and surface water resources;

3. Reduction of emissions, such as particulate matter, nitrogen oxides (NOx), volatile organic compounds, and ozone precursors and depleters that contribute to air quality impairment violations of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards;

4. Reduction in soil erosion and sedimentation from unacceptable high levels on agricultural land; and

5. Promotion of at-risk species habitat conservation.

The goal of the locally led group was to recommend a ranking system that rewarded and gave priority to those producers that help most to address the above resource concerns and also address local concerns and priorities as listed on the Ranking Worksheet. Part of the ranking system includes priority given to the following identified watersheds:  Moorehead Lake Watershed, Crawford Creek Watershed, and the Battle Creek Wellhead Protection area. The ranking will be completed for the specific practices to be applied through the EQIP contract. Sign-up is continuous at the NRCS field office. The ranking of the applications will be done periodically as funding allocations become available, and will be announced through the NRCS State Office, and will be publicized by all levels of NRCS.

Funded applications will result in a contract that lists the practices to be applied along with an application schedule and the funds obligated for each practice. Practice design and implementation are subject to NRCS technical standards. Producers may elect to use a Technical Service Provider, if available, for assistance. All conservation practices have a design life which may be longer than the EQIP contract period. The applicant will be responsible for maintenance and operation for the service life of each practice.

Farmers qualifying as Historically Underserved Producers will receive a higher payment rate for vegetative and structural practices.  Funds may be leveraged with other available programs.

For more information on EQIP and other NRCS administrated programs contact the Ida County USDA Service Center located at 5973 State Hwy 175 PO Box 237 Ida Grove, Iowa 51445. Phone (712)-364-2124. Fax (712)-364-4173.

The following files require Acrobat Reader.

EQIP Practice List - 2009
EQIP Application Ranking - 2009
EQIP Nutrient Management Intensity Options - 2009

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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