Farm Bill Applications Needed

USDA News Release

Applications are being accepted from farmers and ranchers for three different Farm Bill Programs that are administered by the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). The three programs include Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), the Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program (WHIP), and Agriculture Management Assistance (AMA).  Interested farmers and ranchers have until December 11, 2009 to submit their applications to be considered for this ranking period.

“We’re focusing our conservation efforts on treating identified priority natural resource concerns on lands being used to produce agricultural products,” says Lawrence Yamamoto, Director of the Pacific Islands Area for the NRCS.

EQIP provides financial assistance to agriculture producers willing to use conservation measures for natural resources, such as forestry, organic farming and energy conservation. WHIP provides technical and financial assistance to improve fish and wildlife habitat. AMA addresses water management, erosion control and integrated pest management; this program was recently add to Hawaii.

Projects that address conservation measures on agriculture lands include animal waste, sedimentation, noxious weeds, insufficient water supply for livestock or irrigation, pesticide or nutrient contamination of ground or surface waters, at-risk species habitat and invasive species are eligible. For a full description of the program eligibility, please visit www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs.

Applications are accepted year-round in a ranking cycle. This cycle ends on December 11, 2009. Previous applications that were not selected/funded in the last ranking cycle will be included for the December 11th deadline.

Contact: Wallace Jennings, District Conservationist at 808-567-6868 ext. 105 (Ho`olehua)