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Virginia 2008 EQIP Signup and Application Information
General Program Description
Virginia's EQIP addresses resource concerns important to improving and
maintaining the state's water and environmental quality. The Environmental
Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) is a voluntary conservation program from the
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. It supports production agriculture
and environmental quality as compatible goals. Through EQIP, farmers may receive
financial and technical help with structural and management conservation
practices on agricultural land and privately owned non-commercial forest land.
EQIP may pay between 35 and 90 percent cost-share to establish eligible
conservation practices.
Incentive payments may be made to encourage a farmer to adopt land management
practices, such as grazing management, manure management, and
wildlife habitat management.
Virginia's Resource Concerns
- Cropland Water Quality Concerns - focuses on cropland erosion, and
building soil quality. Assistance is available to establish structural
erosion control practices such as terraces, diversions and waterways as well
as strip cropping and contouring. Assistance is available to establish crop
rotations that improve soil quality, promoting high residue crop production
in a continuous no-till program.
- Grazing Water Quality Concerns - focuses on issues related to grazing
livestock. Assistance is available to eligible applicants to improve grazing
systems with cross-fencing and watering systems, establish riparian buffers,
and apply nutrients more efficiently.
- Animal Waste Water Quality Concerns - focuses on establishment of animal
waste storage facilities and the proper use of animal manures. Assistance is
available to cost-share animal waste storage facilities.
- Wildlife Habitat For At Risk Species - focuses on habitat for
terrestrial wildlife species.
- Poultry Litter Transfer - Department of Conservation and Recreation
Pilot; pays a $10.00 per ton incentive for litter applied outside of
Chesapeake Bay Watershed
- Forestry Water Quality Concerns - focuses on the establishment of
hardwoods and the stabilization of logging roads, skid trails and landings
on privately owned non-commercial forest land.
- Ground Water/Irrigation Water Management - focuses on irrigation
efficiency, deep aquifer water use and impacts on ground water quality from
open active sinkholes in agricultural areas.
- Pest Management for Orchards - Pilot.
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Small Farm Initiative - focus it to improve technical services and
program participation in all USDA programs through improved outreach to
Small Scale Farmers. The target audience is defined as small acreage farmers
who have historically not participated in financial assistance programs.
Contact:
Dan Solomon
(804) 287-1661
E-mail: dan.solomon@va.usda.gov
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