Business : Money available for conservation practices through EQIP

Has the drought left you looking for ways to conserve what little soil moisture you have left? If so, avoid fall tillage. As the sun heats bare soil it becomes hotter and moisture will evaporate faster, drying out the soil. Instead, consider conservation practices such as cover crops, no-till, and strip-tillage. These practices can minimize soil moisture loss and maximize moisture storage. Financial assistance thru Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) may be available to help implement these practices as well as grassed waterways, terraces, basins, and more.

For livestock producers EQIP offers money to install pipelines, watering systems, and wells used for livestock water. EQIP also pays to install interior fencing, rotationally graze, and seed down a hay field or additional pasture. So if you are a livestock producer hauling water or searching for ways to produce extra forage, EQIP may be your answer.

The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) is a federal financial assistance program designed to help producers put conservation on the ground. There is no better time than now to evaluate your operation. If you have any concerns, submit an application today. Applications for this program may be picked up at the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) office in Vinton. EQIP applications are prioritized for funding using state, national, and locally developed ranking criteria. You may apply at anytime, but the first batch of applications will likely be processed October 19th, 2012. Please call the Vinton Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) at 319-472-2161or visit www.ia.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/stateeqip.html if you would like more information.

Tina Cibula, Soil Conservationist