01/04/05 Signup deadline for NRCS programs

Idaho farmers and ranchers can apply for conservation programs administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service but the deadline to apply is January 14th. Nearly 15 million dollars in financial assistance is available for Idaho producers, almost all of it in the EQIP program says NRCS state director Richard Sims. SIMS "Before the 2002 farm bill we received right about two and a half million dollars in just one program which is the Environmental Quality Incentives Program. Because of the 2002 farm bill the increased conservation on the ground we're up to 15 million dollars in just one year." But application demand is greater than the funds available. Sims says there are 38 Idaho offices to help producers before next week's deadline. SIMS "And what they're doing is signing up for the entire fiscal year. The importance of that is that if they miss the January 14th time frame and we have enough demand for the conservation funds we will not be having another signup until calendar year '06." All of the NRCS conservation program money spent in Idaho last year was part of a cost share agreement where the federal government paid 50 to 75 percent of the tab. Today's Idaho Ag News Bill Scott