Longer growing seasons, conserving natural resources and providing a greater supply of locally grown food are all advantages for the farmers who participate in the United States Department of Agriculture's Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) Seasonal High Tunnel Initiative. The initiative is offered under the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), and funding availability is to be available soon for eligible applicants.
Farmers can submit applications for the initiative at anytime throughout the year. However, NRCS will begin the application ranking process for the EQIP Seasonal High Tunnel Initiative on February 3, 2012 for possible funding. Applications are ranked based on environmental benefit. For an application to be considered for ranking all land and producer eligibility requirements must have been met.
The initiative will provide opportunities for farmers to establish seasonal high tunnel systems for crops and for numerous conservation practices that benefit natural resources. Applicants who apply for the national EQIP initiative can also apply for conservation practices under the state administered Farm Bill conservation programs.
The 2008 Farm Bill provides additional incentives for farmers who are beginning, have limited resources, or are socially disadvantaged. Such farmers can received up to 90 percent of te costs associated with planning and implementing certain conservation practices and up to 30 percent of expected costs may be provided in advance.
Farmers should visit their local USDA Service Center as soon as possible to apply for available funding for Farm Bill programs and initiatives; locations are listed on-line at http://offices.usda.gov/ or in the phone book under Federal Government, U.S. Department of Agriculture. General program information is available on the NRCS North Carolina website at http://www.nc.nrcs.usda.gov/. The USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
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