NRCS PROGRAMS

Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP): EQIP provides incentive payments and cost-share to implement conservation practices.  This program concentrates on improving water quality, conserving both ground and surface water, reducing soil erosion from cropland and forestland, and improving rangeland.  EQIP is also used to improve riparian and aquatic areas, improve air quality, and address wildlife issues.

To find out more about EQIP in Lincoln County contact the Ivanhoe Field Office at 507.694.1630, x3 or visit the Minnesota NRCS website:  www.mn.nrcs.usda.gov.

Sodbuster/Swampbuster Compliance.

Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP): CSP is a voluntary program that provides financial and technical assistant to promote the conservation and improvement of soil, water, air, energy, plant, and animal lie, and other conservation purposes on Tribal and private working lands.

Conservation Reserve Program (CRP): CRP encourages farmers to convert highly erodible cropland or other environmentally sensitive acreage to vegetative cover, such as tame or native grasses, wildlife plantings, trees, filter strips, or riparian buffers.  Currently, a Memorandum of Agreement is in effect to provide for implementation, cooperation, expectations and responsibilities between the NRCS, Farm Service Agency (FSA), and Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) in carrying out the CRP.

Wetland Reserve Program (WRP):  WRP is a voluntary program offering landowners the opportunity to protect, restore, and enhance wetlands on their property. The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) provides technical and financial support to help landowners.

The NRCS provides technical assistance to the agricultural landowners by:

• Review of AD1026 Sodbuster/Swampbuster Compliance
• Conducting a site investigation with the landowner
• Working with the landowner to determine the best management practice (BMP) for the given situation
• Surveying and designing the project
• Producing a rough cost-estimate
• Providing the landowner with a designed plan for submission of bids
• Performing a pre-construction conference with the contractor and landowner
• Supervising construction
• Certifying completion of the project

All practices must be approved for cost-share prior to construction.  Landowners are reimbursed upon completion of the project.

CONTACTS

The contacts for the Federal NRCS Programs are as follows: Dennis Johnson or Randy Sheik.

For information on the Federal NRCS Programs go to:  http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/.