The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) state office in Ohio has announced that July 18, 2014 will be the cut-off date for applications for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) – Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) funding in 2014. EQIP provides financial assistance to agricultural producers adopting a wide variety of resource management activities.
The GLRI, established in 2010, provides a way for NRCS to focus on conservation that improves natural resources in the Great Lakes watershed. By targeting conservation assistance to portions of the Lake Erie watershed, agricultural producers have a better chance of receiving financial and technical help from NRCS to plan and adopt best management practices (BMPs). This year, NRCS selected the St. Joseph, St. Marys, Upper Maumee, Lower Maumee, Auglaize, Raisin, Ottawa-Stony, Blanchard, Cedar-Portage, and Sandusky watersheds to offer $3.5 million in GLRI funding.
The IPM Institute of North America is encouraging farmers to apply for EQIP for Nutrient Management Conservation Activity Plans (CAPs) to keep fertilizer on farm fields and out of rivers, lakes and streams. Designated funds are available for CAPs to identify and plan improvements. Dr. Thomas Green, president of the Institute stated, “When nutrients are lost from cropland, farmers lose money and water quality can suffer. We want to help growers gain access to NRCS programs to improve resource use efficiency and water quality in the Western Lake Erie Basin.”
Applications are available online or at your local NRCS office. Please contact your NRCS District Conservationist if you are interested in developing a Conservation Activity Plan 104 or 590 nutrient management plan for your farm. Additional information about the EQIP programs can be found online at: Ohio NRCS Press Release .
For more information about IPM Institute programs:
Call or email Kip Studer, Resource Management Planner, IPM Institute
(567) 213-1397, kstuder@ipminstitute.org
