Colorado NRCS EQIP Presentation

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United States Department of Agriculture Natural
Resources Conservation Service
Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)
FARM BILL 2002
Helping PeopleHelp the Land
Colorado Conservation
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Farm Bill 2002

• Most significant commitment of resources toward
  conservation in our Nations history
• Opportunities for farmers and ranchers to reach
  conservation goals
• Variety of incentives to producers and landowners
  interested in conservation programs

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Farm Bill 2002

• The Farm Bill program is one of the most
  effective tools NRCS
• has in place to address Colorados top priority
  natural resource
• issues including

• Water Quantity
• Rangeland Health
• Water Quality (Animal Nutrients)
• Soil Health
• Drought Recovery

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Watershed Approach

• Ten major watershed basins
• Recognizes resource diversity
• Locally led by conservation districts
• Customized programs
• Ranking based on similar systems

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Colorado Conservation Districts and Watershed
Associations
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Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)

• Financial and technical assistance
• Structural and management practices
• Short- and long-term contracts

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Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)

• Cost-share at 50 percent, some higher
• Additional cost-share for limited resource
  producers and beginning farmers and ranchers

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Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)

• Resource issues addressed through
• EQIP include

• Soil health
• Grazing land health
• Water quality/quantity
• Wildlife habitat

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Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)
EQIP practices may include

• Improved irrigation systems
• Animal waste facilities
• Grazing management systems including water
  development and fencing

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Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)
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EQIP Ground and Surface Water Conservation
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EQIP Ground and Surface Water Conservation (GSWC)

• Provides cost-share under EQIP
• Promotes ground and surface water conservation
  activities
• Focuses on net water savings

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EQIP Ground and Surface Water Conservation (GSWC)

• GSWC practices may include

• Less water-intensive crop production
• Conversion to non-irrigated crop or grazing land
  use
• Efficient irrigation systems

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EQIP Ground and Surface Water Conservation (GSWC)
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United States Department of Agriculture Natural
Resources Conservation Service

• NRCSHelping People Help the Land

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
prohibits discrimination in its programs on the
basis of race, color, national origin, gender,
religion, age, disability, political beliefs,
sexual orientation, and marital or family status
(not all prohibited bases apply to all programs).
Persons with disabilities who require
alternative means for communication of program
information (Braille, large print, audiotape,
etc.) should contact USDAs TARGET Center at
[phone] (voice and TDD). To file a
complaint of discrimination, write USDA,
Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326W,
Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue,
SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410, or call (202)
720-5964 (voice or TDD). USDA is an equal
opportunity provider and employer.