NEWS RELEASE

 

United States Department of Agriculture                                    

Natural Resources Conservation Service

                                                                                                            6013 Lakeside Boulevard

                                                                                                            Indianapolis, IN  46278

                                                                                                            www.in.nrcs.usda.gov

 

 

CONSERVATION DOLLARS AVAILABLE

 

            INDIANAPOLIS, Dec. 4, 2007—Even though Congress is working on a new Farm Bill, farmers can still benefit from some of the 2002 Farm Bill programs.  One of these programs offers farmers the chance to prepare now for the conservation measures they need to apply, thanks to assistance from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

 

            NRCS State Conservationist Jane Hardisty said, “We know what our 2008 allocations are for a couple of conservation programs, and for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) we’ll have around $9 million to help Indiana farmers take the next step toward reaching their conservation goals.

 

            “We accept applications for EQIP continuously, but now would be a good time to apply for anyone who needs a conservation plan or needs to add to an existing plan,” said Hardisty.  “Conservation plans usually cover multiple years, and when we allocate this year’s dollars, it commits them over the life of the contract.  That way the cost-share and incentives money is available to support all the conservation measures in the plan.”

 

            Our field staff is ready to work one-on-one with farmers and have the technical expertise to plan and design conservation measures that are needed to protect natural resources on farm lands. 

 

            Funding is available for conservation measures such as cover crops, waterways, structures, filter strips and other buffers, or for land management practices which includes nutrient and pest management, prescribed grazing, animal waste utilizations, and similar practices.  To find out more or to sign up, stop by the local USDA Service Center or view a complete list of practices eligible for funding on the NRCS Web site http://www.in.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/2008eqip/eqip2008.html in a document called “EQIP Indiana 2008 State Guidelines.”      .

#

 

Contacts:

Jane E. Hardisty, NRCS State Conservationist, (317) 290-3200

Michael McGovern, Public Affairs Specialist, (317) 290-3200, ext. 324