Weekly Update

October 24, 2008

 

EQIP UPDATE:

Application Deadline Extended through December 5, 2008

 


 The sign-up period for agricultural producers to apply for 2009 Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) funding has been extended to December 5, 2008. This is in response to a continued effort on the part of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to conduct outreach and information activities for conservation programs funded through the new Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (2008 Farm Bill). The original application deadline of October 31st was based on final EQIP rules and procedures being in place by the end of September. As the rules and procedures are not yet finalized, several questions about conservation program opportunities for California's producers remain. NRCS feels that extending the deadline will allow them to better serve the public. Additional updates and information on the 2009 EQIP program are available through your local NRCS office, or on the web at: www.ca.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/eqip/2009/index.html
In order to understand the importance of conservation programs like EQIP to the dairy industry, you need not look beyond Stanislaus County. Over the past 4 years, NRCS has funded 139 projects for local dairy producers through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program's (EQIP)-Animal Feeding Operation (AFO)/Confined Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) Initiative  http://www.ca.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/eqip/2008/statepriorities2008.html#AFO. Under the Initiative, local producers have received more than $7,000,000 in cost share assistance! Some examples of projects that have been funded under the program include waste storage ponds, transfer pipelines, and other manure handling facilities; more recently, however, there has been a demand for assistance preparing Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plans (CNMP).

 

Developing a CNMP is one way that NRCS can assist dairymen to prioritize their resource concerns. NRCS uses the CNMP as a planning tool to evaluate manure, water, and nutrient applications by combining management practices and infrastructure improvements into a single document that will ensure that both production and natural resource protection goals are identified and achieved. NRCS has worked with local dairy organizations and industry partners to complete 35 CNMPs in Stanislaus County, and has an additional 13 currently under contract. With the assistance of local service providers, the Stanislaus County Office hopes to offer the service to 15 additional dairymen this year. Like other NRCS programs, participation is voluntary.      

                                                                                           

Joe Mota, NRCS dairy planner for Stanislaus County, says that preparing a CNMP can be a simple or complex process, depending on the dairy facility and the amount of information that the dairyman has already collected. It typically requires knowledge in engineering, agronomy and crop nutrient management, erosion control practices, irrigation systems, and water management. While it is possible that a producer could prepare their own CNMP, most producers will find it necessary to enlist the help of one or more technical experts.                                                                                                                   
Free technical assistance is available directly from the NRCS; however, the timing and scheduling of the assistance may not always meet the producers' needs. NRCS also provides cost share assistance on a competitive basis to producers who wish to contract with Technical Service Providers (TSP) to prepare a CNMP. To assure that certain minimum standards are met, the NRCS has placed an emphasis on providing training and certification opportunities for local service providers, like Paul Sousa of Western United Environmental Services. Paul worked with the East Stanislaus Resource Conservation District and NRCS to prepare three CNMPs for Western United members in 2008, and is currently assisting other members of the WUES staff to receive their TSP certification. For information on becoming a TSP or to locate TSPs in your area, contact your local NRCS office or check on the web at: http://techreg.usda.gov/CustLocateTSP.aspx.
For more information on EQIP opportunities in your area, please contact your local NRCS Field Office. For office locations and contact information visit http://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app?state=ca.

 

 

CALENDAR OF MONTHLY MONITORING ACTIVITIES

OCTOBER

1st of the month

 Photograph Free Board in Ponds

Weekly

 Visual inspection (production and waste storage areas; ponds)

Process wastewater application

 Visual inspections, volume, date

Solid Manure applications

 Volume/density OR weight/moisture

Manure Exports

 Measure volume/density OR weight/moisture (require lab analysis)

Harvest

 Yield, lab analysis

Irrigation event

 Volume, source, date

Tail water discharge

 Date, time, volume, duration, location, destination, field measurements & lab analysis if within 60 days of manure application.

To receive more information on WUES, please contact your WUES Environmental Technician or WUES Office: