07/03/08 EQIP signup

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service says the deadline for 2009 Environmental Quality Incentives Program signup is July 14th. Bob Bartholomew says evaluation and ranking of applications will start right after the deadline. BARTHOLOMEW "We're hoping then that will allow us to begin selecting and actually funding contracts early in the fiscal year which would be in October or November so that those early spring practices can get on the ground in the very same year that we initiate the contract." With more than eleven million in EQIP funding for Idaho already this year the very popular program will pay up to 75 percent of the eligible conservation costs. BARTHOLOMEW "Here in Idaho we've had special initiatives where we've gone and targeted again a species of concern. We're looking to use the program in the future to try to do things for sage grouse in particular. It allows us to put emphasis on irrigation practices. We are in a desert and we need to conserve water. We're looking at new ways to address energy concerns. We've done some of that with gravity pipelines with special initiative funds through EQIP." Again, EQIP signup deadline is July 14th. Today's Idaho Ag News Bill Scott