Deadline nears for USDA IQIP incentive program

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service is reminding all farmers in the CNMI that the deadline for the filing of application for its 2006 Environmental Quality Incentives Program is this Friday, Feb. 17.

District conservationist J. Scott Crockett said the USDA incentive for the Commonwealth this year focuses on the Animal Waste Management System. This aims to help local farmers who need assistance in improving their animal farming systems.

Crockett said the USDA has allotted at least $600,000 in incentives to the CNMI this year. Some $400,000 would go to Saipan while Tinian and Rota would receive $100,000.

The EQIP is not a grant nor a loan but a “cost-share program” that is part of the federal government’s voluntary program to help farmers and ranchers who face threats to soil, water, air, and related natural resources on their land.

Soil conservationist Kenneth Kramer said that, although these are not an actual requirements, the Animal Waste Management program prefers projects or programs on gutters, filter strip, waste wand, solid separator, manure transfer, composting facility, waste management, waste storage tank, and heavy use area protection. The agency is hoping to give out incentives to at least 60 percent of projects.

In a recent presentation, Kramer said that EQIP is a conservation tool, intended to introduce sustainable conservation technology but not for building businesses or starting businesses.

Currently, the USDA in the CNMI has at least 50 active EQIP contracts amounting to more than $1 million that is spread throughout the islands. Crockett said the range of contracts right now with farmers range from $4,000 to $56,000 per farmer.

Other projects that could benefit from the EQIP or cost-share program are those involved in grazing, such as pipeline, cross fencing, use exclusion, water facilities, pasture planting, prescribed grazing, brush management, tree and shrub establishment, and heavy use area protection. Projects on cropping systems such as field borders, windbreaks, access road, crop rotation, contour farming, irrigation systems, nutrient and pest management, vegetative barriers and hedgerows, and residue management and mulching, could also benefit from the program.

EQIP is a federally funded program under the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002, also known as the Farm Bill. Applications may be obtained and filed at the USDA Service Center along the Beach Road.