Lyon 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 Lyon County Resource Concerns to be addressed by EQIP:

1. Water Quality – Harmful Levels of Pathogens in Surface Water, Harmful Levels of Pesticides in Surface Water, and Excessive Nutrients and Organics in Surface Water.
2. Soil Erosion – Sheet and Rill, Ephemeral Gullies, and Classic Gullies.
3. Air Quality – objectionable odors, particulates <10PM and < 2.5 criteria, and undesirable air 
4. Water Quantity – Inefficient Water Use on Irrigated Land 
5. Plant Condition – Productivity, Health, & Vigor              
6. Geographic Area – Lake Pahoja (Pioneer Watershed), Public Wellhead Protection Areas, Big Sioux River (Iowa 303d Impaired Waters 2004), EPA 319 project, Iowa Watershed Review Board project.                 

These resource concerns address the following National EQIP priorities:

1. Reduction on non-point source pollution, such as nutrients, sediment, pesticide in impaired watersheds consistent with Total Maximum Daily Loads, where available as well as the reduction of groundwater contamination and the conservation of ground and surface water resources.                     
2. Reduction in soil erosion and sedimentation from unacceptable high levels on agricultural land.   
3. Reduction of emissions such as particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds, and ozone precursors and depleters that contribute to air quality impairment violations of National Ambient Air Quality Standards.         

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. 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, 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 Lyon County USDA Service Center located at 710 N 2nd Ave East, Suite 102, Rock Rapids, IA 51246. Phone (712)472-4021. Fax (712)472-3270.

The following files require Acrobat Reader.

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