News Release

NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE ACCEPTS APPLICATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2009 ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY INCENTIVES PROGRAM (EQIP) AND WILDLIFE HABITAT INCENTIVES PROGRAM (WHIP)

Updated 03/10/2009

United States Department of Agriculture

Natural Resources Conservation Service

771 Corporate Drive Suite 210

Lexington, KY 40503

Phone: 859-224-7350

Web: http://www.ky.nrcs.usda.gov

Lexington, Ky., March 10, 2009— USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is accepting applications for both the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) at your local USDA Service Center or conservation district office.

Landowners may apply for both programs at any time however, applications received by April 15, 2009, will be evaluated and considered for this (federal fiscal year 2009) program year. Applications received after that date will be held until the next evaluation period.

EQIP applications are evaluated and ranked using criteria set forth by local work groups to determine which applications provide the best environmental benefits and address the resource concerns of their local area.

EQIP provides cost-share assistance to persons engaged in livestock or agricultural production on eligible land. Cost-share rates vary by practice. All conservation practices are subject to NRCS technical standards adapted for local conditions.

Applications selected for funding require an EQIP plan of operations. This plan will be developed with the landuser to identify appropriate conservation practices. EQIP practices in Kentucky include, but are not limited to: pipeline and watering facility, grassed waterway, diversion, forest stand improvement, and fencing.

WHIP provides landusers an opportunity to improve wildlife habitat. The program provides financial incentives for installing eligible practices on land they own or control. The landuser must devote at least ten (10) acres to eligible wildlife practices.

WHIP applications are evaluated and ranked to determine which applications provide the most beneficial habitats.

In Kentucky, the primary focus of WHIP is to improve early successional and forestland habitats for declining species and other wildlife. Restoring remnant prairies, planting native grasses, shrubs, and trees, implementing wildlife beneficial forest stand improvements, and creating shallow water areas are some of the eligible practices for the program. Excluding livestock from sensitive streams and woodlands is also important focus under Kentucky’s 2009 WHIP. Since WHIP focuses on improvement to wildlife cover, food plots are not eligible under the program.

Tom Perrin, NRCS State Conservationist said, "For Kentucky, our initial EQIP allocation is over $9 million and the initial WHIP allocation is over $700,000. Allocations will be used to restore or improve habitats under WHIP and allow us to put EQIP conservation practices on the ground throughout the state."

Additional information may be found at http://www.ky.nrcs.usda.gov/programs. To apply for either program, or for more information, please contact your local NRCS or conservation district office.
 

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