EQIP sign-up deadline nears

Farmers have until Aug. 13 to apply under the general sign-up for funding from the Natural Resources Conservation Service’s Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).

The program provides voluntary, technical and financial assistance to farmers to improve irrigation efficiency; manage nutrient run-off and animal waste; improve the health of native plant communities and reduce soil loss. Typically, producers pay half the costs of such practices.

County growers have used EQIP funding in recent years to implement mulch till systems, no-till/direct seed systems, nutrient management and pest management practices.

Last year, Washington producers received more than $13 million in financial assistance through the program.

Interested farmers can contact the NRCS at its offices in Colfax and St. John. Farmers can also consult the agency’s web site for more information: http://www.wa.nrcs.usda.gov

Additional ranking deadlines will pass later this year for special projects like organic producers, conservation activity plans and others.