#Industry News
Iowa Landowners May Qualify for Higher Conservation Payment Rates
For the first time, Iowa’s private landowners have the opportunity to implement selected resource conserving practices on their land using a higher than normal payment rate through USDA’s Environment Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will now offer higher payment rates for 20 practices to eligible farmers statewide. In the past, the highest financial assistance rates through EQIP were reserved for Iowa’s historically underserved farmers, such as beginning farmers and veterans, and for special land targeted initiatives.
“This is a group of the most environmentally beneficial practices in treating our priority resource concerns in Iowa,” said Kurt Simon, state conservationist for NRCS. “Many of the practices were chosen due to the public benefit they provide.”
NRCS priorities in Iowa include improving water quality, soil health and wildlife habitat on private lands, says Simon. “We are committed to supporting Iowa’s Nutrient Reduction Strategy to help improve water quality in the state, as well as provide excellent technical assistance to help farmers improve soil conditions,” he said. “Many of these practices would also provide much needed wildlife habitat, which is declining across the state.”
Practices eligible for the highest EQIP payment rate in Iowa include:
Access Control
Conservation Cover
Conservation Crop Rotation
Constructed Wetland
Denitrifying Bioreactor
Drainage Water Management
Early Successional Habitat Development
Forage and Biomass Planting
Forest Stand Improvement
Prescribed Burning
Prescribed Grazing
Riparian Forest Buffer
Riparian Herbaceous Cover
Saturated Buffer
Stream Bank and Shoreline Protection
Tree or Shrub Establishment
Upland Wildlife Habitat Management
Wetland Restoration
Windbreak/Shelterbelt Establishment
Windbreak/Shelterbelt Renovation