Funds available for farmers in lake watersheds
Farmers in the Lower Fox and the Manitowoc/Sheboygan River watersheds may be eligible for a special conservation initiative to help clean up the Great Lakes.
Wisconsin is one of eight states that have received federal funding through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service announced that Wisconsin will receive $2.2 million for agricultural conservation practices to reduce erosion and protect water quality through this initiative.
NRCS will conduct a special sign-up through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) for GLRI funding through July 1. Over $1.6 million is available to help farmers with the cost of needed conservation practices, with particular emphasis on livestock concerns. Priority watersheds are those with the most vulnerability and greatest need for protection of water quality.
NRCS will be offering cost sharing on a wide variety of practices geared towards assisting producers in addressing soil and water quality improvements on their operations. Producers may progressively address these issues with practices such as: manure storage, grassed waterways, roof runoff structures, silage leachate, milkhouse and barnyard runoff collection systems, tree planting, cover crops, and the development or expansion of a managed grazing system and practices associated with it.
Also available is cost sharing for Nutrient Management for Livestock and Cash Grain producers. With the dramatic rises in fertilizer prices, increasing regulations, and the new Wisconsin Working Lands Tax Credit Program, it’s more important than ever to develop a nutrient management plan that identifies proper timing, amount, and nutrient crediting to help offset these costs.
Cost sharing for the development of a Nutrient Management plan is quite significant at $9.60/ac/yr for 3 years, and will help you to comply with the ever-increasing manure application regulations.
The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) is available for producers to apply for cost sharing on a continuous basis, and producers are encouraged to contact the NRCS office at the USDA Service Center at 920-467-9917 ext. 3 to schedule an appointment to discuss the program in detail. More information is available at www.wi.nrcs.usda.gov.
