Sep 23, 2015
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- There are less than four weeks left until the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) sign-up period closes in both Arkansas and Mississippi on Friday, October 16. This special EQIP sign-up is being held as part of the National Rice Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) Project, led by the USA Rice – Ducks Unlimited (DU) Stewardship Partnership.
RCPP is funded through the 2014 Farm Bill and administered by the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). The USA Rice-DU project matches private and federal funding to help pay for conservation work completed through NRCS’s EQIP and Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP).
USA Rice and DU were awarded $10 million in Federal funding with $6.8 million contributed by nearly 40 partner organizations and businesses earlier this year.
Ben Mosely, USA Rice’s vice president of government affairs said, “this EQIP sign-up is focused on rice acres and farmers who regularly plant rice crops. Ranking of applications addresses three priority concerns – water quantity, water quality, and waterfowl habitat.” Mosely continued, “applications that address all three concerns will be ranked as a high priority for funding. Within the concern of water quantity, Irrigation Water Management (EQIP Practice 449) is a focal point.”
Mosely is encouraging Arkansas and Mississippi rice farmers to get their applications in to their local NRCS offices as soon as possible to ensure they are considered for funding. A flyer outlining the project’s acceptable practices and a brief summary can be found here.