EQUIP sign up period ends soon.

NRCS Contact Rey T. Adame (505) 761-4406 ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., March 23, 2016 - Assistant State Conservationist Kris Graham Chavez of the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in New Mexico recently announced that a sign up for fiscal year 2016 Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) is underway and all New Mexico agricultural producers who would like to be considered for financial assistance under special conservation initiatives need to apply by Friday, April 15, 2016. While ag producers can apply year round for EQIP assistance, this application cutoff announcement is specific to the following 11 National Initiatives, 2 State Initiatives and 1 Local Program: 1. Organic 2. On-Farm Energy 3. Conservation Activity Plans 4. Ogallala National Initiative 5. StrikeForce 6. Lesser Prairie Chicken Initiative 7. Southwestern Willow Flycatcher Initiative 8. Drought Initiative 9. National Water Quality Initiative 10. Joint Chiefs Landscape Restoration 11. Resiliency to Climate Change Initiative 12. New Mexico State Acequia Initiative 13. New Mexico Watershed Initiative 14. Roswell AFO Local Program Producers can apply by visiting their local USDA Service Center. Producers who have established a Client Gateway account may submit their application online. Producers need to receive a farm and tract number from the Farm Service Agency (FSA) by the application deadline. "We want New Mexico farmers and ranchers to know that we are ready to assist producers get conservation on the ground and hope they will take this time to stop by their local NRCS office to discuss their current conservation needs. If one of these initiatives does not fit the needs of the customer, the field office staff will be happy to discuss a conservation plan and financial assistance that will be available in Fiscal Year 2017 that would fit their operation," said Graham Chavez. EQIP provides a targeted, science-based approach to restoring and protecting habitat while strengthening rural economies and cultivating collaboration among conservation partners. EQIP provides a flat rate payment to producers to install conservation practices, such as Range Planting, Windbreaks, Residue Management No-Till, Riparian Forest Buffers, Watering Facilities, Fence, Tree Planting, and Wildlife Habitat Management. NRCS provides leadership in a partnership effort to help people conserve, maintain and improve our natural resources and environment. You can find more Program information at NRCS New Mexico Programs. For more information about NRCS New Mexico visit NRCS New Mexico.