The USDA’s NRCS Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) is offering assistance to ag growers and producers looking to conserve natural resources.
Farmers and ranchers have until November 2nd to apply for assistance from the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). Ag operators can get both financial and technical assistance for a variety of initiative that are aimed at conserving natural resources. The deadline for financial assistance is November 2nd. Find out more below.
Applicable Initiatives to Conserve Natural Resources
Initiatives that are part of the EQIP-funded assistance include:
- Organic Producer Initiative: “a voluntary conservation program that provides technical and financial assistance for organic farmers and ranchers, or those interested in transitioning to organic.”
- Seasonal High Tunnels: “provides financial and technical assistance to help extend the growing season for high value crops in an environmentally safe manner.
- Energy Initiative: Focuses on “energy efficiency and fuel savings. Farmers and ranchers can cut input costs, maintain production, protect soil and water resources, reduce the nation’s dependence on fossil fuels and save money by using conservation practices.”
- Longleaf Pine Initiative: “financial and technical assistance for conservation practices that help restore longleaf pine forests and enhance existing stands.”
- Working Lands for Wildlife- Quail: “combats the decline of seven wildlife species whose decline can be reversed and recovery will benefit other species with similar habitat needs. In Florida, threatened species are gopher tortoise and northern bobwhite quail.”
- Strikeforce: “working with farmers and ranchers in communities that face persistent poverty. As a result, these producers are seeing their operations become more sustainable while their conservation practices help promote clean air and water, healthy soil, wildlife habitat and resistance to extreme weather events, such as drought.”
- Conservation Activity Plans: “to identify conservation practices needed to address specific natural resource needs.
A posting on the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Florida, website maintains that the best way to get started is to “Begin by visiting your local NRCS field office and requesting help developing a conservation plan.”
Griffin Fertilizer is committed to helping both growers and ranchers make sound agronomic and economic decisions in order to maximize the health of their grove and pasture. As a full-service custom dry & liquid fertilizer blender and crop protection product distributor, we will continue our mission to further advance Florida agriculture. For questions or concerns about your farm or pasture, contact us and one of our team will be in touch.