DEADLINE FOR NRCS 2010 CONSERVATION PROGRAM APPLICATIONS ANNOUNCED

February 3, 2009

For More Information:
Carrie Mosley, 406-587-6967

Bozeman--Producers and participating private landowners are reminded the deadline for submitting all Natural Resources Conservation Service conservation program applications is August 1, 2009. Applications submitted after that date will not be considered for 2010 funding.

Montana State Conservationist Joyce Swartzendruber says Fiscal Year 2009 participation by producers was active “with good participation for Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) participation and initiatives.” Montana received $21,494,484 for EQIP financial assistance for FY 2009. There are currently 1,257 active applications requesting $32,829,730 in financial assistance. Of those it is estimated 727 of the applicants will receive funding. For the special organic initiative program Montana received $1.4 million and 42 applications for funding were submitted and 34 are being funded. Funding for 6 of 9 special initiatives were approved for a total of $3,389,511 including:

• Cover Crops for Healthy Soils
• Conservation Reserve Program Transition
• Dunn Mountain Fire Restoration
• Reduced Tillage for Irrigated Annual Row Crops
• Precision Agriculture
• Russian Olive/Salt Cedar Control

Four proposals for the Agricultural Water Enhancement Program (AWEP) were forwarded from Montana to the National Headquarters for funding consideration.

Montana approved an application a multi-year program for the Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative (CCPI) submitted by the Environmental Defense Fund, Rancher Stewardship Alliance, the Nature Conservancy and the World Wildlife Fund for rangeland improvements to protect priority upland birds in southern Phillips County. That will be funded with $200,000 of EQIP funds.

Other NRCS 2009 program applications include:

• Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) – 41 applications seeking $1,053,944
• Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) – 27 applications on hand and 16 are preapproved for funding for a total of $1.9 million including
  • 10 permanent easement applications
  • Two 30-year easement applications
  • Three 10 year restoration contracts
  • One 30 year tribal contract
  • 2,012 total acres
• Farm and Ranchlands Protection Program (FRPP) – Eight applications seeking $4.75 million. NRCS funded 4 projects on 6,434 acres with $2.64 million.
• Grassland Reserve Program (GRP) – focused on the tri-county area of Blaine, Phillips and Valley.
  • GRP has $1.7 million for FY 2009 obligations. $165 thousand has been committed to projects on Indian lands.
  • GRP received 29 applications seeking $7.25 million.
  • NRCS is funding two easements on 11,630 acres, one 20-year rental on 6400 acres, one 15 year rental on 5000 acres and on tribal land, one 15-year rental on 720 acres and one 10 year rental on 360 acres.

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