For Immediate Release
Date: January 14, 2008

Contact:
Paige Buck, State Public Affairs Specialist, (217) 353.6606
Jody Christiansen, Public Affairs Specialist (217) 353.6627

Illinois EQIP Opportunities Widen Payment Caps Increased; Expanding Operations Eligible

Champaign, IL—Effective immediately, Illinois NRCS is raising current payment caps and offering expanded financial assistance for Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) monies to conservation-minded farmers. In addition, expanding livestock operations that were formerly ineligible for EQIP are no longer restricted, opening tremendous financial opportunities to help livestock producers make significant operational improvements.

Illinois NRCS’ State Conservationist Bill Gradle explains. “Basically, all practice caps that we have in place for 2008 EQIP contracts will be increased by 50%. If you were previously told that the most EQIP money you could get for a waste storage facility for example was $100,000, now you could receive $150,000,” says Gradle.

In addition to lifting payment cap limits, NRCS now accepts EQIP applications for livestock operations that are expanding. Producers with either confinement or grazing operations that are expanding by 50% or more may be eligible and may be considered for EQIP financial assistance, where they couldn’t have been considered in the past.

“We have fiscal year 2008 funds to put conservation systems on Illinois farms,” says Ivan Dozier, NRCS Assistant State Conservationist for Programs. “In total, we have $13.2 million. NRCS makes this money available to farmers who have a clear need and a desire to protect their resource base. Our goal is simple—to get all these federal funds spoken for. And let’s do it sooner rather than later when new rules or new programs for the upcoming Farm Bill bring things to a temporary stand still.”

“While we realize these kinds of major adjustments and changes impact and complicate the application process and your decision-making process, we are glad to be able to offer more folks the opportunity to compete for these 2008 EQIP funds. We’re pleased that we can offer more Illinois producers federal dollars to protect their soil and water and help them build sustainable ag operations,” says Gradle.

Producers who are already signed up and approved for EQIP assistance or who have a new contract that are affected by these changes will be contacted by their local NRCS staff. “You’ll need to come into the office so we can update and modify your EQIP contract and determine what your new cost-share numbers will be,” says Dozier. The next EQIP batching period is January 25, 2008. “If these changes impact you or your bottom line, or if EQIP is something you want to do this year, do not delay,” adds Dozier. If the local NRCS Field Office is unable to process your application by January 25, they will get your application ready for a future batching period.

EQIP practices most likely to be affected by this expanded opportunity include practices such as waste storage facilities, methane digesters, ponds, manure transfer, composting facilities and others. The changes described apply to EQIP conservation practices, systems or structures but do NOT affect incentive payments or practices such as Nutrient Management. For more information visit www.il.nrcs.usda.gov or call your county USDA Service Center today.

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