USDA Schedules Meeting for Technical Service Providers

Bangor, Maine – April 30, 2009 -- The Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (or 2008 Farm Bill) authorizes the use of financial assistance funds from the Environmental Quality Inventive Program (EQIP) to develop Conservation Activity Plans (CAP). The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Maine plans to offer “cost-share” to eligible EQIP clients for the development of any of the eight CAPs. These plans will be developed by Technical Service Providers.

The CAPs that Maine NRCS plans to offer are:

• Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan
• Forest Management Plan
• Grazing Management Plan
• Integrated Pest Management Plan
• Irrigation Water Management Plan
• Agricultural Energy Management Plan
• Conservation Plan Supporting Organic Transition Plan
• Fish and Wildlife Habitat Plan

There will be a meeting on May 13, 2009 to explain the process to become eligible to develop CAPs and to be hired as a Technical Service Provider by EQIP contact holders, as well as addressing the required content of a CAP. The meeting will be held from 10:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. at the Spectacular Events Center, 395 Griffin Road in Bangor, Maine.

Technical Service Providers are individuals certified by the NRCS State Conservationist, or through an Approved Certifying Organization, and placed on the Approved List by the State Conservationist, to provide technical assistance to farmers and others for specific conservation programs administered by USDA. Technical Service Providers are not employees of NRCS.

Meeting space is limited so if you plan to attend, please contact Debra Gray at 207-990-9552 or email debbie.gray@me.usda.gov. 

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