Federal Funds Available for Ag Conservation Projects

Honolulu, September 26, 2005 -- Applications are now being accepted from farmers and ranchers for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and the Ground and Surface Water Conservation (GSWC) Program.  Interested farmers and ranchers have until November 16, 2005 to submit their applications to be considered for this ranking period.

            “We’re focusing our conservation efforts in Hawaii and American Samoa on treating identified priority natural resource concerns on lands being used to produce agricultural products,” says Lawrence Yamamoto, State Conservationist for the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

            “For EQIP, financial cost-share assistance funds are available to agricultural producers who are willing to implement conservation measures which treat the targeted natural resource concerns on their land,” said Yamamoto.  Projects that install conservation measures on agricultural lands to address the following proposed identified priority natural resource concerns are being considered: animal waste, sedimentation, noxious weeds, insufficient water supply for livestock or irrigation, pesticide or nutrient contamination of ground or surface waters, at-risk species habitat, and invasive species.

“In addition, the GSWC Program may fund projects which show a net savings in ground or surface water resources on agricultural lands that have been irrigated two out of the past five years,” said Yamamoto.

NRCS will provide technical assistance to help agricultural producers design, plan, and implement their conservation measures.

             Interested farmers and ranchers are asked to call their local USDA Service Center (Natural Resources Conservation Service field office or Farm Service Agency county office), or Soil and Water Conservation District office for more information.  For program application information visit www.hi.nrcs.usda.gov.  USDA is an equal opportunity employer and provider.

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