NRCS Announces 2010 Signup for Conservation Program in Maine

Bangor, ME – October 15, 2009 – Maine agricultural and forest producers who would like technical and financial assistance to manage their natural resources are encouraged to apply for the federal Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) through the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

Applications for EQIP are accepted at USDA Service Centers in Maine on a continuous basis. However, only applications which are received by December 1, 2009 will be considered for funding in 2010. Applications received after this date will be considered for funding in 2011. Applicants will be asked to work with NRCS conservation planners to assess resource needs and agree on practices to treat these needs. Funding decisions on the ranked applications received by the December 1st cut-off will be made after February 1, 2010.

The Environmental Quality Incentives Program offers technical and financial assistance to agricultural and forest producers to implement conservation practices to address such concerns as soil and water quality, grazing land conservation, animal waste management, forest stand improvement and irrigation water management. Any producer engaged in livestock, crop or forest production on eligible land may apply for EQIP. Eligible land includes cropland, pastureland and private non-industrial forestland.

Producers should call or visit their local USDA Service Center to find out which resource concerns are being addressed in their area, and begin the conservation planning process and complete the necessary paperwork. USDA Service Centers are listed online at http://offices.usda.gov,  or in the telephone book under United States Government, Agriculture Department. General program information is available on the Maine NRCS website at www.me.nrcs.usda.gov. 

“USDA is committed to providing conservation tools and resources to help Maine’s producers ensure that their land remains healthy and productive,” said NRCS State Conservationist Juan Hernandez. “NRCS field staffs are available to help farmers develop a conservation plan to address their resource concerns.”

NRCS is the lead conservation agency that helps farmers conserve, maintain and improve natural resources through science-based conservation efforts, technical assistance and incentive-based programs.

Maine Environmental Quality Incentives Program Website
National Environmental Quality Incentives Program Website

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